A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others are lost following a vessel transporting approximately 200 people trying to get to the European continent capsized off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations designed to reducing irregular migration.
