At least seven people have perished and many others are missing in the wake of a boat ferrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with several Maghreb states with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
