At least seven souls have died and a significant number are lost after a boat carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
