A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number are lost in the wake of a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African countries aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
