At least seven individuals have perished and many others are lost following a craft carrying about 200 people attempting to reach European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
