A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
