No fewer than seven souls have perished and a significant number are lost after a boat carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African countries designed to curtailing illegal migration.
