A minimum of seven souls have died and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying around two hundred people trying to get to Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to reducing irregular migration.
