A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a boat ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with several North African nations with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
