A minimum of seven individuals have died and many others are lost after a vessel carrying about 200 migrants trying to get to Europe overturned in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
