A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number are lost after a boat ferrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in last year and estimates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
