At least seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a boat transporting approximately 200 people trying to get to European shores sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states aimed at reducing illegal migration.
