A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number are lost following a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
