No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for following a craft transporting around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canaries in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
