No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost after a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates over 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
