A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel transporting about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
