Numerous People Lost After Vessel Transporting Two Hundred Migrants Goes Down near the coast of the Gambian coast.

At least seven people have perished and a significant number are lost in the wake of a vessel transporting around two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.

The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.

Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.

The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.

Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.

Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.

The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.

An Established Corridor

The Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.

Recently, the European Union has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.