Dozens Missing Following Boat Transporting Two Hundred Migrants Sinks in waters off the Gambian coast.
No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a craft carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African countries aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
