No fewer than seven people lost their lives and a significant number are lost in the wake of a boat ferrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack 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 on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
