A minimum of seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel carrying about two hundred people trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who died were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
