At least seven people have died and numerous others are missing after a craft ferrying around two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with several Maghreb states aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
