No fewer than seven people have perished and a significant number are missing following a craft ferrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to reducing illegal migration.
