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Migrant crisis: Libya boats search for more bodies | Migrant crisis: Libya boats search for more bodies |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Fishing boats off the Libyan coast are searching for more bodies after two migrant vessels capsized on Thursday. | Fishing boats off the Libyan coast are searching for more bodies after two migrant vessels capsized on Thursday. |
Around 200 people are feared to have drowned as they tried to cross from Zuwara, west of Tripoli, to Italy. | Around 200 people are feared to have drowned as they tried to cross from Zuwara, west of Tripoli, to Italy. |
The victims include Syrians, Bangladeshis and people from sub-Saharan Africa. | The victims include Syrians, Bangladeshis and people from sub-Saharan Africa. |
Police in Italy have detained 10 suspected traffickers after 52 people were found dead in the hold of a ship off the coast of Libya on Wednesday. | Police in Italy have detained 10 suspected traffickers after 52 people were found dead in the hold of a ship off the coast of Libya on Wednesday. |
BBC Africa Live: News updates | |
The Libyan coast-guard worked overnight on Thursday to search for survivors from the latest tragedy. | The Libyan coast-guard worked overnight on Thursday to search for survivors from the latest tragedy. |
But Libya is poorly equipped to carry out rescue operations as the boats available to its coast-guard are small, BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad reports from Tunis. | But Libya is poorly equipped to carry out rescue operations as the boats available to its coast-guard are small, BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad reports from Tunis. |
Dozens of bodies have been recovered, but it is difficult to verify the exact numbers. | |
At least 150 survivors of the two sinkings have been taken to a refugee centre and a detention centre in Libya. | |
While most of the victims are thought to be from Syria and African countries, a Bangladeshi diplomat told the BBC that at least five Bangladeshi nationals, including a six-month-old baby, were among the dead. | |
Some survivors were rescued having spent the night in the water, clinging to life jackets. | |
'Murder' | |
Meanwhile officials in Palermo investigating the deaths of 52 migrants found dead in a boat's hold on Wednesday have detained 10 of the 571 survivors brought ashore, on suspicion of murder, Rai TV reports. | Meanwhile officials in Palermo investigating the deaths of 52 migrants found dead in a boat's hold on Wednesday have detained 10 of the 571 survivors brought ashore, on suspicion of murder, Rai TV reports. |
Prosecutor Maurizio Scalia told AP that those detained included seven Moroccans, two Syrians and a Libyan. | Prosecutor Maurizio Scalia told AP that those detained included seven Moroccans, two Syrians and a Libyan. |
A Swedish coastguard ship, the Poseidon, working with the EU's Frontex border agency, brought the survivors and the bodies to the Sicilian port. | A Swedish coastguard ship, the Poseidon, working with the EU's Frontex border agency, brought the survivors and the bodies to the Sicilian port. |
Melissa Fleming from the UNHCR said survivors had recounted being charged money just to come out of the hold and breathe. | Melissa Fleming from the UNHCR said survivors had recounted being charged money just to come out of the hold and breathe. |
One survivor said migrants were beaten with sticks to keep them in the hold, she said. | One survivor said migrants were beaten with sticks to keep them in the hold, she said. |
The United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) says more than 2,500 people have died trying to reach Europe so far in 2015, not including Thursday's deaths. | |
Meanwhile Austrian police have confirmed that 71 people died inside a refrigerated lorry found abandoned on a motorway near the Hungarian border. They think that at least some of the dead were from Syria. |