At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are missing after a vessel ferrying about 200 people seeking to enter Europe overturned in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and estimates more than 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
