At least seven people lost their lives and many others are lost following a craft ferrying about 200 migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
