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| Migrant boat wrecked off Libya | Migrant boat wrecked off Libya |
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| A boat packed with more than 250 migrants heading for Europe illegally has sunk off the coast of Libya, reports from Libya and Egypt say. | A boat packed with more than 250 migrants heading for Europe illegally has sunk off the coast of Libya, reports from Libya and Egypt say. |
| Libyan officials say that at least 21 people died and about 20 were rescued but there is no word about the other people on board. | Libyan officials say that at least 21 people died and about 20 were rescued but there is no word about the other people on board. |
| There are unconfirmed reports that a second boat, carrying more than 300 people, also sank in the same area. | There are unconfirmed reports that a second boat, carrying more than 300 people, also sank in the same area. |
| Tens of thousands of migrants attempt to reach Europe by sea every year. | Tens of thousands of migrants attempt to reach Europe by sea every year. |
| The vessel carrying more than 250 people ran into difficulties shortly after setting off from Sidi Bilal, near Libya's capital, Tripoli. | The vessel carrying more than 250 people ran into difficulties shortly after setting off from Sidi Bilal, near Libya's capital, Tripoli. |
| An Egyptian foreign ministry official said 20 people had been saved by Libyan rescue workers, but dozens of other migrants are feared to have drowned. | An Egyptian foreign ministry official said 20 people had been saved by Libyan rescue workers, but dozens of other migrants are feared to have drowned. |
| A source at Libya's interior ministry said that at least 21 people had drowned and an unknown number were missing. | A source at Libya's interior ministry said that at least 21 people had drowned and an unknown number were missing. |
| In Cairo, Egyptian foreign ministry official Ahmed Rizk said earlier that the boat had sunk some 30km (19 miles) off the Libyan coast because it had a hole in the hull. | In Cairo, Egyptian foreign ministry official Ahmed Rizk said earlier that the boat had sunk some 30km (19 miles) off the Libyan coast because it had a hole in the hull. |
| "Libyan search and rescue operations led to the recovery of the bodies of those who drowned as a result of the accident, among them the bodies of 10 Egyptians," Mr Rizk was quoted as saying by Egypt's Mena news agency. | "Libyan search and rescue operations led to the recovery of the bodies of those who drowned as a result of the accident, among them the bodies of 10 Egyptians," Mr Rizk was quoted as saying by Egypt's Mena news agency. |
| The nationalities of other migrants on the boat were not immediately known. | The nationalities of other migrants on the boat were not immediately known. |
| Unconfirmed reports from Reuters news agency said another boat with 342 migrants aboard had also sunk after leaving Libya. | Unconfirmed reports from Reuters news agency said another boat with 342 migrants aboard had also sunk after leaving Libya. |
| Libya has become a popular transit point for illegal migrants hoping to start a new life in Europe. | Libya has become a popular transit point for illegal migrants hoping to start a new life in Europe. |
| The BBC's Yolande Knell in Cairo says there are conflicting reports about the number of boats that may have sunk off Libya in the past two days and the number of migrants they may have been carrying. | |
| Our correspondent says many of the would-be migrants come from Egypt, where there is a high rate of youth unemployment. They usually head for Italy. | |
| Often the vessels they use are not seaworthy, which can mean they end up in difficulties, our correspondent adds. At least 40 people drowned when a boat sank while making the crossing last June. | |
| Italy has announced that it will soon start joint sea patrols with Libya aimed at stopping the heavy influx of illegal migrants. | Italy has announced that it will soon start joint sea patrols with Libya aimed at stopping the heavy influx of illegal migrants. |
| Tens of thousands of Africans make perilous sea journeys to Europe every year. | Tens of thousands of Africans make perilous sea journeys to Europe every year. |