A minimum of seven people lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African countries aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
