A minimum of seven people have died and a significant number are missing following a boat transporting around 200 people trying to get to the European continent overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to limiting illegal migration.
