No fewer than seven individuals have perished and numerous others are missing following a boat transporting around two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
