At least seven souls have died and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying about 200 people attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
