No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel transporting around 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African nations with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
