A minimum of seven people lost their lives and a significant number are lost in the wake of a vessel ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
