No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a vessel carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry 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 individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to reducing undocumented migration.
