Scores Lost After Vessel Carrying 200 Migrants Capsizes off the Gambian coast.
At least seven people have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel carrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
