At least seven people lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries aimed at reducing irregular migration.
