A minimum of seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel carrying approximately two hundred people seeking to enter the European continent sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
