At least seven people have perished and many others are lost following a craft carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety 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 hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to reducing irregular migration.
