At least seven souls lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
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 Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
