No fewer than seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for following a vessel transporting about two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states aimed at reducing illegal migration.
