No fewer than seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for following a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to curtailing illegal migration.
