A minimum of seven people lost their lives and a significant number are missing in the wake of a boat transporting approximately two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent overturned off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
