No fewer than seven souls have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
