No fewer than seven individuals have perished and many others are missing following a boat carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
