No fewer than seven souls have perished and a significant number are lost following a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at limiting illegal migration.
