A minimum of seven people lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying around two hundred people attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
