At least seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting approximately 200 people trying to get to European shores capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
