A minimum of seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing after a boat transporting around 200 people seeking to enter European shores sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
