At least seven souls have died and numerous others are missing after a boat transporting approximately two hundred people attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
