A minimum of seven people have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in last year and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned were found, 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 taken by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African countries designed to reducing illegal migration.
