Numerous People Missing After Boat Holding 200 Migrants Goes Down off Gambia.
At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are missing following a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach European nations.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
