A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in last year and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting irregular migration.
