No fewer than seven souls have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing 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 grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
