At least seven people have perished and many others are missing following a vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
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 en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at limiting irregular migration.
