At least seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a vessel ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African nations aimed at limiting illegal migration.
