At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a boat transporting about 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
