At least seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying about 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
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 dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
