No fewer than seven souls have perished and numerous others are missing after a craft ferrying approximately two hundred people seeking to enter European shores overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Officials state several of the victims 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 described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African countries aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
