A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing illegal migration.
