At least seven people have perished and numerous others are lost following a boat carrying about 200 people trying to get to Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people perished trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
