At least seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying around 200 people trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", 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 traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
