A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying about 200 migrants trying to get to Europe capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
