At least seven people lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a boat carrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
