At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are missing in the wake of a craft transporting around two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African nations with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
