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| 'Dozens feared dead' off Lampedusa as migrant boat capsizes | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dozens of people are feared dead after a boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean. | Dozens of people are feared dead after a boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean. |
| Italian and Maltese ships - backed by helicopters - were scrambled to the scene and are searching in darkness. | Italian and Maltese ships - backed by helicopters - were scrambled to the scene and are searching in darkness. |
| Malta's prime minister said 27 people are confirmed dead. Earlier unconfirmed reports mentioned 50 bodies. | |
| The boat capsized 120km (70 miles) off Lampedusa, an Italian island where more than 300 African migrants drowned when their vessel went down last week. | The boat capsized 120km (70 miles) off Lampedusa, an Italian island where more than 300 African migrants drowned when their vessel went down last week. |
| 'Women and children' | 'Women and children' |
| The boat is believed to have encountered difficulties just before sunset. | The boat is believed to have encountered difficulties just before sunset. |
| Reports said people on board had crowded to one side of the vessel, causing it to capsize, as they tried to get the attention of a passing aircraft. | Reports said people on board had crowded to one side of the vessel, causing it to capsize, as they tried to get the attention of a passing aircraft. |
| The vessel was reportedly first spotted by the Maltese air force who alerted Italian naval vessels still in the area after last Thursday's boat disaster. | The vessel was reportedly first spotted by the Maltese air force who alerted Italian naval vessels still in the area after last Thursday's boat disaster. |
| Maltese authorities are co-ordinating the mission, which is taking place in the country's territorial waters. | Maltese authorities are co-ordinating the mission, which is taking place in the country's territorial waters. |
| Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told reporters in the Maltese capital Valetta that 27 people had been confirmed dead. | |
| Italy's Ansa news agency said at least 50 fatalities had been seen in the water, but this has not been officially confirmed. | |
| The BBC's Matthew Price in Lampedusa says that the helicopters and navy crews were able to pull many people to safety, but darkness is now hampering rescue operations. | |
| The nationalities of the migrants were not immediately known. | |
| Key destination | Key destination |
| Lampedusa, which lies 290km (180 miles) off the coast of Africa, is a key destination for migrant vessels bound for Europe. | Lampedusa, which lies 290km (180 miles) off the coast of Africa, is a key destination for migrant vessels bound for Europe. |
| Last Thursday, at least 319 people - mostly Somalis and Eritreans - died when their boat sank near the island. | Last Thursday, at least 319 people - mostly Somalis and Eritreans - died when their boat sank near the island. |
| Only 155 people were rescued of more than 500 believed to have been on board, making it one of the worst in a series of migrant boat tragedies to blight the region. | Only 155 people were rescued of more than 500 believed to have been on board, making it one of the worst in a series of migrant boat tragedies to blight the region. |
| Earlier on Friday at least 500 more migrants travelling in separate boats were rescued in coastguard operations near the Italian island of Sicily. | Earlier on Friday at least 500 more migrants travelling in separate boats were rescued in coastguard operations near the Italian island of Sicily. |
| Also on Friday, a separate boat accident off the Egyptian port of Alexandria claimed the lives of at least 12 migrants. | Also on Friday, a separate boat accident off the Egyptian port of Alexandria claimed the lives of at least 12 migrants. |
| Egyptian security officials said 116 people, mostly Palestinians and Syrians, were pulled from the water and taken to a police station. | Egyptian security officials said 116 people, mostly Palestinians and Syrians, were pulled from the water and taken to a police station. |
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