No fewer than seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are lost after a craft carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in last year and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a search operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
