No fewer than seven souls have died and numerous others are missing after a vessel transporting about two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing illegal migration.
