At least seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states designed to limiting undocumented migration.
