A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing after a vessel ferrying about 200 people trying to get to the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the northern bank region 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 search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
