No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and estimates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
