A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
