At least seven people have died and a significant number are lost in the wake of a vessel carrying around 200 people attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in last year and data indicates over nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries designed to curtailing irregular migration.
