At least seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying about two hundred people trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
