Over 100 Dead In New Migrant Tragedy, Second Wreck Feared
Faizan Hashmi Published November 03, 2016 | 07:30 PM
ROME,, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Nov, 2016 ) - At least 110 people are feared to have drowned off Libya when a migrant boat capsized, and more may have died in another stricken vessel, the UN's refugee agency said Thursday, citing survivor testimony.
"A vessel with around 140 people on board overturned Wednesday just a few hours after setting off from Libya, throwing everyone into the water. Only 29 people survived," UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Sami told AFP.
The Norwegian vessel Siem Pilot was first on the scene, some 20 nautical miles off Libya, and rescued the survivors -- all of whom were in poor condition after spending hours in the water -- and recovered 12 bodies.
Those pulled to safety were transferred to the island of Lampedusa by the Italian coast guard. In what could be a second incident, which could not be immediately confirmed by the coast guard, two women told the UN agency they believed they were the only survivors in an disaster in which some 125 people drowned.
"They told us they were on a faulty dinghy which began to sank as soon as they set sail. They were the only survivors," Sami said. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) quoted the same survivors but put the total death toll at around 240 people.
"Not enough has been done so far to avoid these tragedies," said Flavio di Giacomo, IOM spokesman in Italy. The Italian coast guard said it had no information on the second reported rescue on Wednesday or the saving of two women. Over 4,000 migrants have died or are missing feared drowned after attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing this year.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
46 minutes ago -
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
1 hour ago -
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
1 hour ago -
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
1 hour ago -
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
1 hour ago -
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
1 hour ago
-
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
1 hour ago -
Israeli-fired unexploded bombs could take 14 years to clear: UN
1 hour ago -
US announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
1 hour ago -
Pakistan’s National Day Reception held in Colombo
1 hour ago -
Erdogan's White House talks with Biden on May 9 postponed: Turkish official
1 hour ago -
Spanish PM keeps country guessing on his future
1 hour ago