A minimum of seven souls have perished and many others are missing following a vessel carrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board 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 seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at limiting illegal migration.
