At least seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel carrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
