A minimum of seven souls have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying about two hundred people seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
