No fewer than seven souls have died and a significant number are lost following a vessel transporting about 200 people seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
