A minimum of seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military reported.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
