At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others are lost following a craft ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
