At least seven souls have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for following a boat carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
