At least seven people have perished and many others are lost following a craft ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to limiting illegal migration.
