At least seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat transporting about two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores overturned in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to limiting undocumented migration.
