At least seven souls have died and a significant number are lost in the wake of a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing illegal migration.
