At least seven individuals have perished and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
