At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat transporting around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations designed to limiting illegal migration.
