A minimum of seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
