At least seven people lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting about two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
