At least seven people have died and numerous others are lost following a boat carrying about two hundred people seeking to enter European shores overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
