No fewer than seven souls have died and many others are lost after a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with several Maghreb states designed to reducing irregular migration.
