A minimum of seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing after a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
