No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing after a craft ferrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
