No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat carrying around 200 people trying to get to Europe sank in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
