No fewer than seven people have died and many others are lost after a vessel transporting approximately two hundred people seeking to enter Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
