Boat heading to Europe sank – dozens missing

TT

Published 13.19

 

Dozens of people are feared to have perished in the Atlantic Ocean off Gambia. This photo of fishing boats was taken on a beach in Gambia on another occasion. Photo: Grace Ekpu/AP/TT

A boat with an estimated more than 200 people on board has sunk in the sea off West Africa, according to authorities in Gambia.

The people on board were migrants trying to reach Europe and the accident happened on New Year's Eve. Since then, 102 survivors have been found and rescued, according to Gambian authorities.

Seven dead bodies have been recovered. The remaining people – dozens or as many as a hundred – are missing.

Thousands of Africans are still trying to reach Europe and better living conditions, but since surveillance has been tightened in the Mediterranean, more and more are heading out into the Atlantic, mainly hoping to reach the Spanish Canary Islands.