A minimum of seven people lost their lives and many others are lost after a vessel transporting approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African nations designed to curtailing illegal migration.
