A minimum of seven souls have died and a significant number are lost following a boat carrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "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 on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to limiting undocumented migration.
