A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to limiting undocumented migration.
