A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals 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 Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states designed to curtailing irregular migration.
