At least seven people lost their lives and numerous others are lost in the wake of a boat carrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to limiting illegal migration.
