A minimum of seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft transporting around two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states designed to reducing irregular migration.
