At least seven people lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for following a craft transporting approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
