© All rights reserved. NepalKhabar

World

61 migrants killed as boat capsizes off Libya

Nepalkhabar

 | 

(Photo: Reuters)

At least 61 migrants are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea after their vessel was swamped by high waves off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

Most of the victims were from Nigeria, Gambia and other African countries. They included women and children.

There had been 86 people on board the boat, which departed from Zuwara on Libya's western coast, witnesses told the agency.

Authorities transferred the 25 survivors to a detention center back in Libya.

The IOM said it "provided medical support" to the survivors who the organization said were all in good condition.

"The central Mediterranean continues to be one of the world's most dangerous migration routes," the IOM said.

IOM spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo said that more than 2,250 people have died this year on the central Mediterranean migrant route.

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the main routes for migrants in Africa to reach Europe, via Italy.

Sea migrant arrivals to Italy have almost doubled compared with the same period last year, with around 140,000 people coming ashore so far this year.

A fishing boat packed with hundreds of migrants sank off Greece in June this year, killing 78 people.

The fate of 518 remains unknown, according to an IOM report.

 



Comments

Related News

Delhi CM Kejriwal gets interim bail till June 1

The Supreme Court of India granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till June 1…

Vladimir Putin begins his fifth term as president of Russia

Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration,…

Brazil floods kill at least 75 people over 7 days; 103 missing

Massive floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 75 people ov…

Turkey suspends all trade with Israel over its offensive in Gaja

Turkey has suspended all trade with Israel, citing the "worsening humanitarian tragedy" i…