No fewer than seven people have died and many others are lost following a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to European shores sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
