No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft transporting approximately 200 people trying to get to Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
