At least seven people have perished and numerous others are lost following a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
