No fewer than seven people have perished and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel transporting about two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
