At least seven people have died and numerous others are lost following a craft carrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to limiting undocumented migration.
