A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying around two hundred people attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
