A minimum of seven people have perished and many others are missing following a craft transporting around 200 people attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries aimed at reducing illegal migration.
