A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number are lost after a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
