At least seven souls lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a boat carrying around two hundred people trying to get to the European continent capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
