No fewer than seven people lost their lives and a significant number are lost following a craft carrying about two hundred people trying to get to Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
