At least seven souls lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a boat carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
