No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat ferrying about 200 people seeking to enter European shores overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
