A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
