No fewer than seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
