At least seven people have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel transporting around 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military reported.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
