A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are missing after a vessel ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates more than 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
