At least seven people lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat carrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "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 traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
