A minimum of seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
