At least seven individuals have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a vessel transporting about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and estimates more than 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
