A minimum of seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials said.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
