At least seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for after a craft carrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing 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 has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to curtailing illegal migration.
