A minimum of seven people have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized 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 said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
