No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military reported.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing illegal migration.