No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
