A minimum of seven people have died and a significant number are lost in the wake of a craft ferrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
