At least seven people have died and a significant number are lost in the wake of a boat carrying around two hundred people seeking to enter the European continent sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states designed to curtailing irregular migration.
