A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing following a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes used by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple North African nations designed to reducing illegal migration.
