No fewer than seven people lost their lives and numerous others are lost after a vessel carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
