No fewer than seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African nations with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
