At least seven individuals have died and numerous others are lost in the wake of a boat ferrying about two hundred people attempting to reach European shores overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at reducing irregular migration.
