A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number are lost after a craft transporting about 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
