No fewer than seven individuals have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
