A minimum of seven souls have perished and many others are lost after a vessel transporting around two hundred migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and estimates more than 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
