At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost after a craft transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
