A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others are missing following a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to reducing irregular migration.
