At least seven souls have perished and numerous others are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying about 200 migrants trying to get to European shores sank in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state 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 were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries designed to limiting irregular migration.
