No fewer than seven people have died and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel transporting approximately 200 people attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat 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 seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African countries aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
