Dozens missing after boat carrying 200 migrants sinks off...

What’s Happening

Okay so It is the latest accident on one of the world’s most dangerous routes used by West Africans trying to reach Spain.

Dozens missing after boat carrying 200 migrants sinks off Gambia 37 minutes ago Save Makuochi Okafor , BBC Africa and Wycliffe Muia Save Anadolu Agency via The shipwrecked vessel was found aground on a sandbank, authorities say (file photo) At least seven people have died and many others are missing after a boat carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say. The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found “grounded on a sandbank”, the countrys defence ministry dropped in a statement. (shocking, we know)

Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spains Canary Islands.

The Details

The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe. Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and the Spanish non-government organisation Caminando Fronteras estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died trying.

‘Try or die’ - one man’s determination to get to the Canary Islands ‘I found out on socials that my son had died’ After Wednesdays accident, the Gambian Navy shipped a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry dropped. The authorities did not say what kind of boat it was but they are typically large wooden canoes not designed for a journey of more than 1,500 km (900 miles) across the Atlantic Ocean.

Why This Matters

Several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and their identities are still being verified, the defence ministry dropped. The bodies of seven people have been recovered, while 10 of those rescued are dropped to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.

This is part of the larger geopolitical picture unfolding right now.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

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