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Dozens still missing off Lebanon Dozens still missing off Lebanon
(about 6 hours later)
Rescuers are still looking for 41 people missing after a ship carrying a cargo of livestock sank of the north Lebanese coast in a storm. Rescuers are still looking for 35 people missing after a ship carrying a cargo of livestock sank off the north Lebanese coast in a storm.
Navy ships responding to a distress signal pulled 38 people from the sea, the Lebanese military said.Navy ships responding to a distress signal pulled 38 people from the sea, the Lebanese military said.
The first survivors have now arrived on land, and at least four bodies have been recovered a spokesman said. The first survivors have now arrived on land, and at least nine bodies have been recovered, a spokesman said.
High seas, strong winds and the floating bodies of thousands of sheep are hampering the rescue effort. High seas, strong winds and the floating carcasses of thousands of animals are hampering rescue efforts.
The Panamanian-flagged Danny F II capsized 11 nautical miles off Tripoli after sending a distress signal. The Panamanian-flagged Danny F II capsized 11 nautical miles (17km) off Tripoli after sending a distress signal.
The vessel was sailing from Uruguay to the Syrian port of Tartous.The vessel was sailing from Uruguay to the Syrian port of Tartous.
One of the survivors, a Filipino named Jonathan, told the AFP news agency he was unable to find a life jacket when he jumped into the water.
The Danny F II had sailed from Uruguay (Image: Peter Mosselberger)
"The waves were very high and I panicked. The water was freezing and I felt pain in my chest.
"I thought I was going to die," he said.
One of those saved was from the Philippines and another from Pakistan, a Lebanese rescue official said.One of those saved was from the Philippines and another from Pakistan, a Lebanese rescue official said.
"They were very scared and cold when we pulled them out of the water," he told AFP news agency. He told AFP that the survivors were "very scared and cold" when they were pulled out of the water.
"If the sea remains calm we hope to find more survivors, but if the storm kicks up again then they have little chance of surviving for more than an hour in the water," he said."If the sea remains calm we hope to find more survivors, but if the storm kicks up again then they have little chance of surviving for more than an hour in the water," he said.
All the livestock were presumed dead, he added. All the livestock were presumed lost, he added.
A Lebanese military spokesman said the crew had time to don life jackets before the boat capsized. A Lebanese military spokesman said the crew had had time to don life jackets before the boat capsized.
International search
The ship's operator, Agencia Schandy, told AFP in Montevideo that those on board the Danny F II included six passengers - four Uruguayans, one Brazilian and an Australian.The ship's operator, Agencia Schandy, told AFP in Montevideo that those on board the Danny F II included six passengers - four Uruguayans, one Brazilian and an Australian.
The ship had left Montevideo on 23 November with 10,224 sheep and 17,932 cattle, the company said.The ship had left Montevideo on 23 November with 10,224 sheep and 17,932 cattle, the company said.
International search
The ship's crew are mostly from the Philippines and Pakistan but there were at least one Lebanese and one Syrian on board, a port official in Tripoli said.The ship's crew are mostly from the Philippines and Pakistan but there were at least one Lebanese and one Syrian on board, a port official in Tripoli said.
Reports from Tripoli said ambulances had been seen rushing out of the port area to nearby hospitals. The captain of the vessel is reportedly British.
Ships from the Lebanese navy and the UN peacekeeping force for Lebanon (Unifil) are conducting the search, along with a Lebanese civilian vessel.Ships from the Lebanese navy and the UN peacekeeping force for Lebanon (Unifil) are conducting the search, along with a Lebanese civilian vessel.
"Three maritime task force ships - one Italian and two German - were dispatched about 10 nautical miles off the coast of Tripoli after the Lebanese navy received a distress call from a Panamanian-flagged ship," Unifil spokesman Andrea Tenenti told AFP news agency."Three maritime task force ships - one Italian and two German - were dispatched about 10 nautical miles off the coast of Tripoli after the Lebanese navy received a distress call from a Panamanian-flagged ship," Unifil spokesman Andrea Tenenti told AFP news agency.
A British military base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was also taking part in the rescue.A British military base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was also taking part in the rescue.
"We have scrambled one helicopter from 84 Squadron but because of the distance from (Akrotiri) base it will be operating out of Larnaca," British Forces spokesman Stuart Bardsley said."We have scrambled one helicopter from 84 Squadron but because of the distance from (Akrotiri) base it will be operating out of Larnaca," British Forces spokesman Stuart Bardsley said.
"The helicopter is not equipped to winch at night but we provide a searchlight facility to lead the boats where there are life rafts.""The helicopter is not equipped to winch at night but we provide a searchlight facility to lead the boats where there are life rafts."
The cargo ship issued a distress call on Thursday afternoon, but had sunk before a Lebanese navy ship reached the area, a Lebanese army officer said.The cargo ship issued a distress call on Thursday afternoon, but had sunk before a Lebanese navy ship reached the area, a Lebanese army officer said.