A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying around two hundred people trying to get to Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
