No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for following a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to reducing irregular migration.
