A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number are missing following a vessel transporting approximately two hundred people attempting to reach European shores sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia 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 getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several Maghreb states designed to reducing irregular migration.
