A minimum of seven souls have perished and numerous others are missing after a craft transporting about two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
