Numerous People Lost After Craft Transporting 200 Migrants Sinks off Gambia.
A minimum of seven souls have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft carrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores sank off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
