A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting about two hundred people trying to get to Europe capsized off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at reducing illegal migration.
