A minimum of seven people have perished and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
