100 DIE IN SEARCH FOR A BETTER LIFE
Babies among migrants drowned in Med
THE bodies of three young children were recovered from the sea after a boat carrying about 120 migrants capsized.
At least 100 of those on board are feared dead after the disaster, which happened two hours after the vessel set sail from near Tripoli in Libya.
Sixteen people were rescued, with survivors saying they heard an explosion before the motor caught fire and the boat – which had been heading for Europe – began taking on water.
The bodies were brought on shore by Libyan security at al-Hamidiya.
Survivor Amri Swileh, from Yemen, said: “When I saw the number of people on the boat, I refused to get on board, because we had been told there would be 20 passengers.” Showing his bruised arms, the 26-year-old said he was threatened by smugglers and forced on board.
He added: “I lost all of my Yemeni friends who were with me. All five of them are missing.” Salem al-Qadhi, a coastguard captain, said: “It was horrible to see.” Up to 15 women were on board, with the 16 rescued passengers all young men from countries including Gambia, Zambia and Sudan.
Libya’s coastguard said fishermen had spotted the vessel in difficulty and contacted the navy, who have been involved in the rescue of hundreds of migrants in recent days.
Libya is one of the main departure points for migrants trying to cross to Europe, usually in flimsy inflatable boats that often puncture or break down, which are provided by smugglers.
Some make it to international waters where they hope to be picked up but increasing numbers are intercepted by Libya’s EU-backed coastguard and returned to Libya.