At least seven people have died and a significant number are lost after a boat carrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards 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.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in last year and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
