At least seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are lost in the wake of a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in last year and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of North African countries designed to limiting illegal migration.
