No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are lost in the wake of a vessel ferrying about 200 people attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states designed to limiting irregular migration.
