Scores Lost After Boat Holding 200 Migrants Goes Down in waters off The Gambia.

At least seven individuals have perished and many others are missing following a vessel carrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.

The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.

Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.

The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.

Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.

Rescue Operation

In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.

Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.

The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.

A Common Migration Route

Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.

Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several Maghreb states aimed at limiting illegal migration.