No fewer than seven souls have died and many others remain unaccounted for following a boat transporting around two hundred people attempting to reach Europe overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
