No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting about 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 people perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
