At least seven people have perished and many others are lost after a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said 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 migrants trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
