No fewer than seven individuals have perished and numerous others are missing following a boat ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized near the shoreline of 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 afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African countries aimed at reducing illegal migration.
