At least seven people lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel carrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, typically through hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several Maghreb states with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
