No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African nations designed to limiting undocumented migration.
