A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
