No fewer than seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to curtailing irregular migration.
