At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat transporting around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in last year and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
