At least seven people have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals perished trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
