At least seven people have died and many others are lost after a boat ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe sank near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African countries aimed at reducing irregular migration.
