At least seven souls have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a boat carrying around two hundred people seeking to enter the European continent sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to reducing illegal migration.
