No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost following a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
