No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel ferrying around two hundred people trying to get to European shores overturned in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to reducing undocumented migration.
