At least seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
