A minimum of seven people lost their lives and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to limiting illegal migration.
