At least seven souls have perished and a significant number are missing in the wake of a boat transporting around two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
