No fewer than seven individuals have died and a significant number are lost following a boat transporting around 200 people trying to get to Europe overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
