At least seven people have perished and many others are missing after a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores 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 North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
