At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others are lost after a craft carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
