At least seven people have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a craft carrying approximately two hundred people trying to get to the European continent overturned in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
