At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are lost in the wake of a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of reducing irregular migration.
