No fewer than seven souls have died and numerous others are lost after a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several Maghreb states with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
