No fewer than seven people lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
