No fewer than seven individuals have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying around two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to reducing illegal migration.
