No fewer than seven souls have died and numerous others are lost after a boat carrying approximately two hundred people trying to get to European shores sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
