At least seven individuals have died and many others are missing after a vessel carrying around two hundred people trying to get to the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
