No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a craft carrying around two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African nations designed to curtailing illegal migration.
