At least seven individuals have died and many others are lost after a vessel transporting around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
