No fewer than seven souls have died and numerous others are lost in the wake of a craft transporting around two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
