A minimum of seven people lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat transporting around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries designed to curtailing illegal migration.
