At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying about 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
