A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in last year and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of North African countries designed to curtailing illegal migration.
