At least seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near 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.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military said.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who died were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
