A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others are lost in the wake of a boat ferrying approximately 200 people seeking to enter the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
