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| Rescue under way as migrant boat capsizes off Libya | Rescue under way as migrant boat capsizes off Libya |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rescuers are searching for hundreds of migrants in the Mediterranean after a boat carrying as many as 600 people capsized off the coast of Libya. | Rescuers are searching for hundreds of migrants in the Mediterranean after a boat carrying as many as 600 people capsized off the coast of Libya. |
| The Irish navy said "significant loss of life" was feared and Medecins Sans Frontieres confirmed "many deaths". | The Irish navy said "significant loss of life" was feared and Medecins Sans Frontieres confirmed "many deaths". |
| But the Italian coast guard and the UN refugee agency say about 400 have been rescued and 25 bodies recovered so far. | But the Italian coast guard and the UN refugee agency say about 400 have been rescued and 25 bodies recovered so far. |
| More than 2,000 migrants are said to have died in 2015 trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. | More than 2,000 migrants are said to have died in 2015 trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. |
| Wednesday's incident occurred when the packed fishing boat ran into rough weather about 15 miles (25km) from Libya's coast. | Wednesday's incident occurred when the packed fishing boat ran into rough weather about 15 miles (25km) from Libya's coast. |
| A distress call was picked up in Sicily and one of the first ships on the scene was an Irish navy vessel, Le Niamh. But as she launched her boats, the migrants apparently moved to one side of the fishing boat, causing it to capsize. | |
| At least three other ships and three helicopters were reported to have arrived in the area shortly afterwards. | At least three other ships and three helicopters were reported to have arrived in the area shortly afterwards. |
| 'Capsized very fast' | 'Capsized very fast' |
| Cmdr Filippo Marini of the Italian coast guard said the rescue operation was still ongoing and now involved seven ships, . | Cmdr Filippo Marini of the Italian coast guard said the rescue operation was still ongoing and now involved seven ships, . |
| He said survivors had indicated that between 400 and 600 people were on board the boat when it capsized. | He said survivors had indicated that between 400 and 600 people were on board the boat when it capsized. |
| Melissa Fleming, a UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokeswoman, said about 100 people are thought to have been travelling in the boat's hull at the time, adding: "The boat capsized very fast". | Melissa Fleming, a UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokeswoman, said about 100 people are thought to have been travelling in the boat's hull at the time, adding: "The boat capsized very fast". |
| Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said its Dignity I vessel was at the scene and two more of its boats were on their way to the area. | Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said its Dignity I vessel was at the scene and two more of its boats were on their way to the area. |
| "The team on the #Dignity1 can confirm that there have tragically been many deaths but does not have figures at this stage," MSF said in a tweet. | "The team on the #Dignity1 can confirm that there have tragically been many deaths but does not have figures at this stage," MSF said in a tweet. |
| It said the same vessel had also been involved in another rescue operation earlier on Wednesday, in which about 100 migrants were rescued. | It said the same vessel had also been involved in another rescue operation earlier on Wednesday, in which about 100 migrants were rescued. |
| The Mediterranean Sea is the world's most deadly border area for migrants. | The Mediterranean Sea is the world's most deadly border area for migrants. |
| In April, a fishing boat carrying about 800 migrants sank off the coast of Libya in what the UN called the deadliest incident in the Mediterranean ever recorded. | In April, a fishing boat carrying about 800 migrants sank off the coast of Libya in what the UN called the deadliest incident in the Mediterranean ever recorded. |
| Earlier this week, the IOM warned that the number of migrants attempting to cross the sea is much higher than in the same period last year. | Earlier this week, the IOM warned that the number of migrants attempting to cross the sea is much higher than in the same period last year. |
| "It is unacceptable that in the 21st Century people fleeing from conflict, persecutions, misery and land degradation must endure such terrible experiences [...] and then die on Europe's doorstep," IOM director general William Lacy Swing said in a statement. | "It is unacceptable that in the 21st Century people fleeing from conflict, persecutions, misery and land degradation must endure such terrible experiences [...] and then die on Europe's doorstep," IOM director general William Lacy Swing said in a statement. |
| Why is EU struggling with migrants and asylum? | Why is EU struggling with migrants and asylum? |
| Migration: Are more people on the move than ever before? | Migration: Are more people on the move than ever before? |
| Are you affected by this story? Please let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you affected by this story? Please let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |