A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and many others are lost following a vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
