Scores Unaccounted For Following Vessel Carrying Two Hundred Migrants Sinks in waters off The Gambia.
At least seven people have died and numerous others are lost after a boat ferrying around two hundred people attempting to reach European shores overturned in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
