At least seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African countries designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
