90 people, mostly Pakistanis, feared drowned at sea

GENEVA/TRIPOLI: An estimated 90 migrants are feared to have drowned off the coast of Libya after a smuggler’s boat capsized early on Friday, leaving three known survivors and 10 bodies washed upon shore, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said.

Survivors told aid workers that most of the migrants on board were Pakistan is, who form a growing group heading to Italy from North Africa, IOM spokeswoman Olivia Headon said.

“They have given an estimate of 90 people who dr owned during the capsize, but we still need to verify the exact number of people who lost their lives during the tragedy ,” Head on, speaking from Tunis, told a Geneva news briefing. “What has been reported to us is that it’s mostly Pakistanis who were on board the boat, but we still need to verify the nationalities and how many from what country,” she said.

Ten bodies have washed upon Libyan shores, two of them known to be Libyans and eight Pakistanis, she said.

“I believe the Libyan coastguard is looking for other survivors off the coast ,” Head on added.

Another spokesman told Reuters Television that the boat was believed to have left shore on Thursday before capsizing early on Friday morning.

Earlier security officials in the western Libyan town of Zuwara said two Libyans and one Paki--

stani had been rescued from the boat. They said 10 bodies had been recovered, mostly Pakistani, but gave no further information.

Zuwara, located near Libya’s border with Tunisia, was a favoured site for migrant boat departures over the past two years but of late has seen only occasional departures. A statement from the Zuwa ra coastguards aid their initial information suggested there were some 90 people on board.