At least seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for following a craft carrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
