No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a boat ferrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
