A minimum of seven people lost their lives and a significant number are missing after a craft carrying around 200 people seeking to enter Europe capsized in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states designed to limiting irregular migration.
