At least seven people have perished and numerous others are lost in the wake of a vessel ferrying around two hundred people attempting to reach European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
