No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing after a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
