A minimum of seven souls have died and numerous others are lost after a vessel carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in last year and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
