A minimum of seven souls have died and many others are lost after a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
