At least seven people have perished and many others are missing after a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
