A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number are lost following a boat ferrying approximately 200 people attempting to reach Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
