No fewer than seven souls have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a craft transporting approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
