At least seven people have died and many others are lost after a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states designed to reducing illegal migration.
