A minimum of seven individuals have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat ferrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores sank in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
