A minimum of seven souls have perished and numerous others are lost after a craft carrying about 200 people attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
