At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in last year and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
