No fewer than seven individuals have died and many others are missing in the wake of a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
