At least seven souls have perished and numerous others are missing after a vessel carrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
