Numerous People Lost After Boat Holding Two Hundred Migrants Capsizes in waters off The Gambia.
No fewer than seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in last year and estimates over 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
