A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting about 200 people attempting to reach European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African nations with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
