No fewer than seven souls have perished and many others remain unaccounted for after a boat ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
