Dozens Missing Following Vessel Carrying 200 Asylum Seekers Goes Down near the coast of The Gambia.
At least seven people lost their lives and a significant number are missing following a craft ferrying about 200 people trying to get to European shores sank near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states designed to reducing irregular migration.