No fewer than seven individuals have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
