A minimum of seven souls have died and a significant number are missing after a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
