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Migrant boats capsize off Libya | Migrant boats capsize off Libya |
(35 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of people are feared dead after two boats carrying up to 500 migrants capsized off the Libyan city of Zuwara, residents and officials say. | |
The first boat, which signalled for help early on Thursday, had nearly 50 people on board. | |
The second, which sank much later, had as many as 400 passengers. | |
The Libyan coastguard is still conducting a rescue operation for that boat, but most of those who were on board are feared dead. | |
At least 100 bodies were taken to a hospital in Zuwara, west of Tripoli, a resident told the BBC. | |
The victims included migrants from Syria, Bangladesh and several sub-Saharan African countries, the resident said, but the information could not be independently verified. | |
About 2,400 migrants have died trying to cross the sea to Europe so far this year, the UN says. | |
On Wednesday, the bodies of at least 51 people were found in the hold of a stricken ship off the coast of Libya. |