No fewer than seven people have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a craft carrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
