At least seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying around 200 people attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
