A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat transporting around 200 people attempting to reach Europe sank near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Officials state 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 said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
