A minimum of seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting approximately two hundred people seeking to enter European shores sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia 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 described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries designed to limiting undocumented migration.
