No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are lost after a craft ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.