At least seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are lost in the wake of a vessel carrying about two hundred people attempting to reach European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
