A minimum of seven individuals have perished and many others remain unaccounted for after a vessel carrying about 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
