At least seven people lost their lives and numerous others are missing following a boat transporting approximately two hundred people seeking to enter the European continent overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
