No fewer than seven individuals have perished and a significant number are lost in the wake of a boat transporting around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at limiting illegal migration.
