A minimum of seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African countries designed to curtailing irregular migration.
