No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are lost in the wake of a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
