At least seven people have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting approximately 200 people seeking to enter the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
