At least seven individuals have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states designed to curtailing irregular migration.
