At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a vessel carrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to limiting undocumented migration.
