Numerous People Lost Following Vessel Carrying 200 Asylum Seekers Goes Down near the coast of the Gambian coast.
At least seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with several North African countries designed to reducing undocumented migration.
