A minimum of seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for following a vessel transporting approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in last year and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes used by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states designed to curtailing illegal migration.
