No fewer than seven people have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
