No fewer than seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to curtailing illegal migration.
