At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost following a craft transporting about 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at limiting illegal migration.
