No fewer than seven individuals have died and many others are missing after a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
