At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying about 200 people trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
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 heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
