At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are missing in the wake of a boat transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
