A minimum of seven individuals have perished and many others are missing after a craft carrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
