A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and many others are missing after a craft carrying around 200 people seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
