At least seven people have died and many others are lost in the wake of a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with several Maghreb states designed to limiting illegal migration.
