A minimum of seven people have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a craft carrying approximately two hundred people attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
