No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing after a vessel transporting about 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
