A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others are lost following a boat carrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
