A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number are lost following a vessel carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with several North African nations designed to limiting illegal migration.
