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| Egypt boat capsize: 12 migrants die off Alexandria | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 12 migrants have drowned and some 116 were rescued after their boat capsized near the Egyptian port of Alexandria, security officials said. | At least 12 migrants have drowned and some 116 were rescued after their boat capsized near the Egyptian port of Alexandria, security officials said. |
| The boat sank early on Friday. The survivors, mostly Palestinians and Syrians, were taken to a naval base. | The boat sank early on Friday. The survivors, mostly Palestinians and Syrians, were taken to a naval base. |
| The incident comes a week after at least 311 migrants died when their boat sank off an Italian island. | The incident comes a week after at least 311 migrants died when their boat sank off an Italian island. |
| Only 155 people survived the disaster near Lampedusa - divers are still searching for bodies there. | Only 155 people survived the disaster near Lampedusa - divers are still searching for bodies there. |
| Alexandria's security chief, Amin Ezzeddin, told the BBC that the survivors of the latest incident included 40 Syrians, 72 Palestinians and four Egyptians. | Alexandria's security chief, Amin Ezzeddin, told the BBC that the survivors of the latest incident included 40 Syrians, 72 Palestinians and four Egyptians. |
| They were initially taken to a naval base in the Alexandria district of Ras al-Tin and then to a police station. | They were initially taken to a naval base in the Alexandria district of Ras al-Tin and then to a police station. |
| Maritime surveillance | Maritime surveillance |
| The accident follows another capsizing understood to have happened 10 days ago, also involving Syrians and Palestinians off the coast of Alexandria. | The accident follows another capsizing understood to have happened 10 days ago, also involving Syrians and Palestinians off the coast of Alexandria. |
| More than 3,400 refugees have attempted to make an illegal crossing from Egypt over to Europe since August this year, according to the UNHCR. | More than 3,400 refugees have attempted to make an illegal crossing from Egypt over to Europe since August this year, according to the UNHCR. |
| Many are Syrian and Palestinians escaping conflict in their countries. | Many are Syrian and Palestinians escaping conflict in their countries. |
| The Lampedusa incident, in which the boat caught fire and capsized less than 1km (half a mile) from the island's shore has prompted an EU pledge 30m euros ($40m; £25m) to help refugees in Italy. | The Lampedusa incident, in which the boat caught fire and capsized less than 1km (half a mile) from the island's shore has prompted an EU pledge 30m euros ($40m; £25m) to help refugees in Italy. |
| On Thursday the European Union also voted to launch a maritime surveillance system aimed at preventing further migrant disasters. | On Thursday the European Union also voted to launch a maritime surveillance system aimed at preventing further migrant disasters. |
| Ministers say the 35m-euros Eurosur programme, which includes plans to share data and use surveillance drones, should speed up the EU response to boats packed with migrants heading for Europe. | Ministers say the 35m-euros Eurosur programme, which includes plans to share data and use surveillance drones, should speed up the EU response to boats packed with migrants heading for Europe. |
| But opponents insist the bloc needs to provide safer ways for genuine refugees to enter Europe. They say the money would be better spent on increasing physical rescue capabilities. | But opponents insist the bloc needs to provide safer ways for genuine refugees to enter Europe. They say the money would be better spent on increasing physical rescue capabilities. |
| Key migrant routes to southern Europe | Key migrant routes to southern Europe |