At least seven people have perished and many others are lost after a vessel carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to limiting illegal migration.
