A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a boat carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
