No fewer than seven souls have died and a significant number are lost in the wake of a craft transporting about two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
