At least seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are missing following a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African countries aimed at reducing irregular migration.
