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| U.N. says up to 500 migrants may have drowned on their way to Italy | U.N. says up to 500 migrants may have drowned on their way to Italy |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| ROME — As many as 500 migrants seeking a better future in Europe may have drowned last week in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Italy, U.N. refugee officials said Wednesday. | ROME — As many as 500 migrants seeking a better future in Europe may have drowned last week in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Italy, U.N. refugee officials said Wednesday. |
| If true, the toll would make the incident one of the worst tragedies involving refugees and migrants over the last year. | If true, the toll would make the incident one of the worst tragedies involving refugees and migrants over the last year. |
| On Tuesday, a team from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spoke with some of the 41 survivors of the alleged accident who had arrived at Kalamata, a Greek town on the Peloponnese Peninsula, the U.N. agency said in a statement. | On Tuesday, a team from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spoke with some of the 41 survivors of the alleged accident who had arrived at Kalamata, a Greek town on the Peloponnese Peninsula, the U.N. agency said in a statement. |
| “If confirmed, as many as 500 people may have lost their lives when a large ship went down in the Mediterranean Sea at an unknown location between Libya and Italy,” said the agency. | “If confirmed, as many as 500 people may have lost their lives when a large ship went down in the Mediterranean Sea at an unknown location between Libya and Italy,” said the agency. |
| [Europe begins sending back migrants] | |
| The survivors included 37 men, three women and a 3-year-old child. They were from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. All were rescued by a merchant ship that then brought them to Greece. | The survivors included 37 men, three women and a 3-year-old child. They were from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. All were rescued by a merchant ship that then brought them to Greece. |
| “The survivors told us that they had been part of a group of between 100 and 200 people who departed last week from a locality near Tobruk in Libya on a 30-meter-long [90-foot] boat,” said the UNHCR. | “The survivors told us that they had been part of a group of between 100 and 200 people who departed last week from a locality near Tobruk in Libya on a 30-meter-long [90-foot] boat,” said the UNHCR. |
| After sailing for several hours, the smugglers tried to transfer the passengers to a larger ship “carrying hundreds of people in terribly overcrowded conditions,” the U.N. agency said. | After sailing for several hours, the smugglers tried to transfer the passengers to a larger ship “carrying hundreds of people in terribly overcrowded conditions,” the U.N. agency said. |
| “At one point during the transfer, the larger boat capsized and sank,” it added. | “At one point during the transfer, the larger boat capsized and sank,” it added. |
| [How Europe is punishing migrants] | |
| The 41 survivors included people who had not yet boarded the bigger ship and some who managed to swim back to the smaller boat, the UNHCR said. | The 41 survivors included people who had not yet boarded the bigger ship and some who managed to swim back to the smaller boat, the UNHCR said. |
| The survivors then drifted at sea for about three days before being rescued by the merchant ship on April 16. | The survivors then drifted at sea for about three days before being rescued by the merchant ship on April 16. |
| The survivors are currently being housed by local authorities in a stadium in Kalamata. | The survivors are currently being housed by local authorities in a stadium in Kalamata. |
| Read more | Read more |
| How Europe’s migrant policy is tearing families apart | How Europe’s migrant policy is tearing families apart |
| As the route to Europe closes, migrants journey through grief | As the route to Europe closes, migrants journey through grief |
| Europe’s harsh new message for migrants: ‘Do not come’ | Europe’s harsh new message for migrants: ‘Do not come’ |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |