A minimum of seven souls have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel carrying approximately 200 people seeking to enter Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at limiting irregular migration.
