A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing following a boat carrying about two hundred people trying to get to the European continent sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
