At least seven souls have died and numerous others are missing after a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals 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 described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple North African countries designed to curtailing illegal migration.
