At least seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a vessel transporting approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who died were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
