No fewer than seven souls have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
