A minimum of seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores overturned in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to curtailing irregular migration.
