At least seven souls have died and numerous others are lost following a boat ferrying around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
