A minimum of seven souls have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a craft carrying about two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent overturned in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in last year and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
