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Tunisia: 150 migrant bodies found after boat accident Tunisia: Many migrants feared drowned after boat sinks
(40 minutes later)
The bodies of some 150 migrants have been found off Tunisia's coast after a Europe-bound boat from Libya capsized, UN and Red Cross officials say. Scores of migrants are feared drowned off Tunisia's after a Europe-bound boat from Libya capsized, officials say.
There were later conflicting reports about the number of bodies recovered, with a coast guard spokesman saying only two had been so far found. Earlier reports by the Red Crescent and UN said 150 bodies had been found, but Tunisia's coast guard later said only two had so far been recovered.
Some 250 passengers, mainly from Africa, went missing as the boat capsized during a rescue operation. About 250 passengers, mainly from Africa, remain missing after the boat hit a sandbank, then capsized during a rescue operation.
An estimated 580 people were saved by the Tunisian coast guard. An estimated 580 people were saved by the coast guard.
Rescue operations by the Tunisian navy and coast guard, which began off the Kerkennah islands on Wednesday, are still continuing. The rescue operation, which began off the Kerkennah islands on Wednesday, are continuing.
Seven people, including two pregnant women, are in intensive care in hospitals at Sfax on the Tunisian mainland. Seven people, including two pregnant women, are in intensive care in hospitals at Sfax on the Tunisian mainland, officials said.
Supplies ran outSupplies ran out
"Up to now 150 bodies of refugees have been found off the shores of Kerkennah," Carole Laleve from the UN refugee agency told Reuters news agency. "We recovered only two bodies yesterday [and] we suspended search operations because of bad weather," coast guard director Lotfi Baili told AFP news agency on Friday.
Moez Barkallah, a Red Crescent doctor in Sfax, told AFP news agency that 123 bodies had been transferred to a morgue at the hospital. Earlier, Carole Laleve from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) told Reuters that 150 bodies had been found off the shores of Kerkennah.
But later coast guard director Lotfi Baili told AFP only two bodies had been recovered. A Red Crescent doctor in Sfax told AFP that 123 bodies had been transferred to a hospital morgue.
However, following the coast guard statement, he said he had not seen the bodies for himself.
The passengers - mostly from West Africa, Pakistan and Bangladesh - had set sail from Libya's capital Tripoli on Saturday afternoon.The passengers - mostly from West Africa, Pakistan and Bangladesh - had set sail from Libya's capital Tripoli on Saturday afternoon.
According to survivors interviewed by UNHCR, the boat was manned by people with little or no maritime experience.According to survivors interviewed by UNHCR, the boat was manned by people with little or no maritime experience.
It ran into difficulty soon after departure and experienced problems with its steering and power.It ran into difficulty soon after departure and experienced problems with its steering and power.
By the third day of the journey the passengers ran out of food and water and the boat then ran aground near the Kerkennah islands, some 300km (about 185 miles) north-west of Tripoli. By the third day of the journey the passengers ran out of food and water and the boat ran aground near the Kerkennah islands, some 300km (185 miles) north-west of Tripoli.
It capsized as the passengers rushed to one side to reach the Tunisian coast guard and fishing boats that had approached the vessel.It capsized as the passengers rushed to one side to reach the Tunisian coast guard and fishing boats that had approached the vessel.
On Wednesday, 195 survivors were transferred to a camp run by the International Federation of the Red Cross near Ras Adjir, close to Tunisia's border with Libya.On Wednesday, 195 survivors were transferred to a camp run by the International Federation of the Red Cross near Ras Adjir, close to Tunisia's border with Libya.
Another 383 are scheduled to be transported to the same or nearby camps on Thursday, the UN refugee agency said. Another 383 are scheduled to be transported to the same or nearby camps on Thursday, the UNHCR said.
Italy has faced a massive influx of refugees since the fall of the regime of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia in January and the outbreak of war in neighbouring Libya.Italy has faced a massive influx of refugees since the fall of the regime of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia in January and the outbreak of war in neighbouring Libya.
The Italian island of Lampedusa lies only about 130km (80 miles) off the Tunisian coast.The Italian island of Lampedusa lies only about 130km (80 miles) off the Tunisian coast.
Italy has complained it is not getting enough help from its EU partners to deal with the influx, which has prompted some European countries to warn they may reimpose border controls.Italy has complained it is not getting enough help from its EU partners to deal with the influx, which has prompted some European countries to warn they may reimpose border controls.