At least seven people have died and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
