At least seven individuals have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
