At least seven individuals have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for following a vessel transporting about 200 people attempting to reach European shores sank off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
