At least seven souls lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting about two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
