A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
