No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are lost after a vessel transporting around 200 people trying to get to Europe sank in waters near Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states designed to limiting irregular migration.
