A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number are lost after a craft ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes used by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to curtailing irregular migration.
