A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing following a craft transporting around 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
