No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are missing after a vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry 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 reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach the EU, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
