At least seven individuals have died and many others are missing after a craft carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in last year and estimates more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
