No fewer than seven individuals have died and many others are missing after a craft carrying about two hundred people trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say 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 drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
