At least seven people have died and a significant number are lost following a craft transporting approximately 200 people attempting to reach European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
