No fewer than seven people have perished and a significant number are lost after a boat ferrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
