No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
