A minimum of seven people lost their lives and a significant number are lost after a vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to European shores capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
