A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat ferrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores overturned off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank area 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 rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
