A minimum of seven souls have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat transporting around two hundred people attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
