No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries designed to limiting undocumented migration.
