A minimum of seven souls have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat transporting about two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores overturned near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at reducing illegal migration.
