A minimum of seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for following a craft ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
