A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
