A minimum of seven people have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a boat ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
