At least seven souls lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for following a craft transporting around two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in last year and estimates over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
