No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and many others are missing after a boat transporting around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
