A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are lost after a boat transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African countries aimed at limiting irregular migration.
