At least seven individuals have died and a significant number are lost after a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in last year and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at limiting illegal migration.
