A minimum of seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a vessel transporting around two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is one of the routes used by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
