No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are lost after a vessel ferrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
