No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat transporting about 200 people trying to get to Europe sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
