At least seven people have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a vessel carrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with several Maghreb states aimed at limiting irregular migration.
