A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at limiting illegal migration.
