A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting around two hundred people trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African nations designed to curtailing illegal migration.
