A minimum of seven souls have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel transporting around two hundred people trying to get to the European continent capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
