No fewer than seven people have died and a significant number are lost after a craft ferrying around two hundred people seeking to enter Europe capsized in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
