At least seven people have perished and many others remain unaccounted for following a craft carrying around 200 people attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states designed to curtailing irregular migration.
