At least seven souls have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat carrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date 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 hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
