No fewer than seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing in the wake of a boat ferrying around 200 people attempting to reach the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
