At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry 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 capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
