No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are lost following a vessel transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in last year and estimates more than 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
