At least seven individuals have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting illegal migration.
