A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a boat ferrying about 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
