A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a boat carrying around two hundred people attempting to reach European shores capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
