No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a vessel ferrying approximately two hundred people trying to get to European shores capsized off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African nations designed to reducing irregular migration.
