A minimum of seven souls have perished and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
