At least seven people lost their lives and many others are missing after a craft ferrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
