At least seven souls have perished and numerous others are lost following a vessel transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped 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 country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
