At least seven souls have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a craft ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at limiting irregular migration.
