A minimum of seven souls have died and many others are lost following a craft carrying around 200 people seeking to enter European shores overturned 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 "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and estimates over 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
