A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and many others are missing after a vessel carrying approximately 200 people trying to get to Europe capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", 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 on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African countries designed to curtailing illegal migration.
