No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel ferrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
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 victims who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
