A minimum of seven souls have perished and many others are missing in the wake of a craft carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with several Maghreb states aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
