No fewer than seven people lost their lives and a significant number are missing in the wake of a boat transporting around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to curtailing illegal migration.
