At least seven people have perished and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
