Numerous People Lost After Craft Carrying 200 Migrants Goes Down near the coast of The Gambia.
No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a boat ferrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several North African nations aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.