Dozens of Gambians are reported to have perished in the Mediterranean sea in the wee hours of Friday when a boat carrying illegal migrants heading towards Italy from Libya capsized.

Sources intimated to the Daily Observer that lots of family members across the country are reported to have lost their loved ones in the sea disaster. In Brikama, five were confirmed dead by their respective families. The unfortunate accident that erupted in the Mediterranean sea has caused the death of Sanusi Sillah from Brikama Sanchaba, Foday Jaiteh, Bakary Jaiteh and Abdoulie Kanyi all from the same compound in Brikama  Nema.

Information also disclosed to your widely circulated newspaper confirmed that  Sanusi Sillah, one of the victims, was  a grade nine student at the Brikama Upper Basic School. Foday Jaiteh and Abdoulie Kanyi, respectively were former students of Bottrop and Nusrat Senior Secondary Schools. The duo are said to have applied for entry visas somewhere in Europe twice but were unsuccessful.

In Sanyang Village, Essa Dinding Bojang, Lamin Manneh, Ousman Bojang and Basolo, all from the same family, also died in the sea disaster. Essa Dinding Bojang is survived by two wives and children. Two people in the persons of Ebrima Dampha and Nyakassi Dampha from Farato are confirmed dead by their families. Ebrima Dampha was married and survived by two kids.

Unconfirmed sources have also disclosed to the Daily Observer that this carnage has caused panic among many families whose loved ones are reported to have left for the Canary Islands recently.