At least seven people have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who died were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several Maghreb states designed to reducing illegal migration.
