A minimum of seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel transporting approximately two hundred people seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes used by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
