At least seven people have perished and many others remain unaccounted for after a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
