At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
