At least seven people have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a boat ferrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes used by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
