A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores sank near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
