Numerous People Missing After Vessel Holding Two Hundred Migrants Sinks near the coast of the Gambian coast.
No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are lost after a vessel transporting around two hundred people seeking to enter the European continent overturned off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
