A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a craft ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African nations aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
