At least seven souls have perished and many others remain unaccounted for after a craft ferrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in last year and data indicates over 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to limiting undocumented migration.
