No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a vessel transporting approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states designed to limiting illegal migration.
