At least seven individuals have perished and many others are missing after a boat carrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
