At least seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are lost following a boat carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
