A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple North African nations designed to reducing irregular migration.
