A minimum of seven souls lost their lives and many others are lost following a vessel transporting about two hundred migrants trying to get to European shores sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", 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 on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in last year and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at reducing irregular migration.
