At least seven people have perished and numerous others are lost following a vessel carrying about two hundred people trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting illegal migration.
