A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and a significant number are lost after a vessel ferrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
