A minimum of seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat transporting around two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with several Maghreb states designed to reducing irregular migration.
