A minimum of seven individuals have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
