A minimum of seven souls have perished and a significant number are lost after a craft carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 people perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
