At least seven people have died and many others are missing in the wake of a craft transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
