At least seven people lost their lives and many others are missing following a boat ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
