A minimum of seven people lost their lives and many others are lost after a vessel transporting approximately two hundred people trying to get to the European continent sank off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
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 bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
