No fewer than seven souls have perished and numerous others are lost following a vessel carrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
