At least seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat carrying about two hundred people trying to get to Europe sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
