A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing after a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of 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.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
