No fewer than seven people have perished and a significant number are missing after a vessel ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
