At least seven people have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African nations aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
