No fewer than seven souls have died and many others are lost following a vessel transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at limiting irregular migration.
