At least seven souls have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel carrying about two hundred people trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
