No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat transporting about two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
