At least seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased 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 said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
