No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are lost after a boat ferrying around 200 people seeking to enter European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
