At least seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are missing in the wake of a craft transporting about two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
