No fewer than seven individuals have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
