No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials said.
Officials state 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 died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries designed to curtailing irregular migration.
