At least seven people have perished and a significant number are lost in the wake of a craft transporting about two hundred people seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
