At least seven people have died and many others are missing following a boat ferrying about 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting illegal migration.
