No fewer than seven people have died and a significant number are lost after a vessel carrying around 200 people attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with several Maghreb states designed to reducing illegal migration.
