No fewer than seven people have died and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel transporting approximately 200 people attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
