A minimum of seven souls have perished and numerous others are missing following a vessel carrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military said.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
