At least seven people have died and many others are lost following a boat ferrying around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Officials state 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 said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes used by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.