No fewer than seven individuals have perished and numerous others are missing after a boat ferrying approximately 200 people attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
