No fewer than seven souls have perished and many others are lost following a craft ferrying about two hundred people seeking to enter the European continent sank off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
