At least seven souls have died and a significant number are lost following a vessel ferrying around 200 people seeking to enter the European continent overturned in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
