At least seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a craft carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area 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 traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing illegal migration.
