No fewer than seven individuals have perished and numerous others are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying about 200 migrants trying to get to Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
