No fewer than seven individuals have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a craft transporting approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
