At least seven individuals have perished and a significant number are lost following a vessel transporting about 200 people attempting to reach European shores sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to limiting undocumented migration.
