At least seven individuals have perished and many others are missing after a craft transporting about two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
