A minimum of seven souls have perished and many others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying around two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
