No fewer than seven people have perished and numerous others are lost after a vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
