At least seven people have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel ferrying about two hundred people trying to get to European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
