At least seven souls have died and many others are lost after a boat carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "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 en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
