A minimum of seven people lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a craft carrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African countries aimed at reducing irregular migration.
