No fewer than seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying about two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Officials state 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 died were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries designed to curtailing irregular migration.
