No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to reducing undocumented migration.
