No fewer than seven individuals have perished and many others are missing following a boat ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who died were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
