No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a boat transporting around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
