No fewer than seven people lost their lives and a significant number are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying approximately two hundred people seeking to enter European shores sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing 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 African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
