Migrants die as rescues continue

TRIPOLI: Red Crescent volunteers recovered the bodies of 24 migrants yesterday that were washed up in an eastern suburb of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Residents in Tajoura district said the bodies had begun washing up at the end of last week. Several had been partially devoured by stray dogs, according to a local coast guard official.

The toll was expected to increase as the flimsy boats used to carry migrants as far as international waters normally carry more than 100 people.

Three migrants died in the Mediterranean on Monday night, a German aid group said, during Italian-led rescue operations in which thousands more were pulled to safety.

About 5 000 migrants were picked up off the Libyan coast by emergency services, Italy’s navy, aid groups and private boats on Monday, and rescues were continuing yesterday, according to an Italian coastguard spokesman. – Reuters