A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a vessel transporting around 200 migrants trying to get to Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes used by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African nations with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
