Dozens Lost After Craft Holding 200 Migrants Sinks in waters off the Gambian coast.
No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are lost following a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
