At least seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a boat ferrying around 200 people trying to get to the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
