At least seven people lost their lives and many others are missing in the wake of a craft carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores sank off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in last year and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
