At least seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying around two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
