At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African countries aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
