At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others are lost in the wake of a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military said.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
