At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing after a boat transporting around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting irregular migration.
