No fewer than seven souls have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores sank in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
