No fewer than seven individuals have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a boat ferrying around two hundred people seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.