No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and many others are missing after a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in last year and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to limiting irregular migration.
