At least seven people have perished and many others are missing in the wake of a craft ferrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
