At least seven people have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African nations with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
