Seven Dead, Dozens Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Gambian Coast
At least seven people died and dozens remained missing after a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants capsized off the coast of The Gambia late Wednesday. The vessel, which was en route to Spain's Canary Islands, overturned near Jinack village in the North Bank Region, according to the Gambian defense ministry.
The shipwrecked vessel was later found "grounded on a sandbank," the ministry said in a statement. As of Thursday, 96 people had been rescued, and search operations were ongoing for the remaining passengers. The Gambian Navy and local fishermen were collaborating in the search and rescue efforts.
The incident highlights the increasing number of African migrants attempting the perilous Atlantic crossing to reach Europe. These voyages are often driven by socio-economic factors and instability in their home countries. Thousands of migrants perish annually while attempting these dangerous routes.
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