A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are lost following a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
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 bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military reported.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to curtailing irregular migration.
