A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number are missing after a craft carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to curtailing illegal migration.
