At least seven people have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a vessel carrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
