A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number are missing following a vessel ferrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
