At least seven souls have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting around two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
