No fewer than seven people have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a boat transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to reducing illegal migration.
