At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are missing following a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
