At least seven people lost their lives and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel carrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in last year and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several Maghreb states designed to reducing illegal migration.
