At least seven people have perished and many others are missing following a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military reported.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at reducing illegal migration.
