At least seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing following a craft ferrying around 200 migrants trying to get to Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
