Dozens Missing Following Craft Transporting Two Hundred Asylum Seekers Goes Down off the Gambian coast.
At least seven souls have perished and a significant number are missing following a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military said.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple North African nations with the goal of reducing irregular migration.