No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a boat carrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
