A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing after a craft transporting about 200 people trying to get to European shores capsized off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
