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Rescue hopes fade for migrants after boat capsizes in Mediterranean Rescue hopes fade for migrants after boat capsizes in Mediterranean
(35 minutes later)
Search teams in the Mediterranean do not expect to find any more survivors from a boat carrying around 600 migrants that sank off the coast of Libya.Search teams in the Mediterranean do not expect to find any more survivors from a boat carrying around 600 migrants that sank off the coast of Libya.
Rescue ships including vessels from the Italian and Irish navies and humanitarian agency Médecins sans Frontiers (MSF) recovered 25 bodies after the boat sank off the Libyan coast on Wednesday and found no more overnight, a spokesman said. Rescue ships including vessels from the Italian and Irish navies and humanitarian agency Médecins sans Frontiers (MSF) recovered 25 bodies after the boat sank on Wednesday and found no more overnight, a spokesman said.
About 400 migrants were saved by a European rescue operation just 15 miles off the coast of war-torn Libya after the metal boat capsized because all the passengers ran to one side, according to the Italian coastguard. About 400 migrants were saved by the European rescue operation just 15 miles off the coast of war-torn Libya after the metal boat capsized because all the passengers ran to one side, according to the Italian coastguard.
Hundreds more – including about 100 people who were believed to have been kept in the hull of the vessel – may have died, potentially making it the deadliest mass casualty involving asylum-seekers since April, when more than 800 died attempting to make the dangerous journey from northern Africa to the southern coast of Italy. Hundreds more – including about 100 people believed to have been kept in the hull of the vessel – may have died, potentially making it the deadliest tragedy involving asylum-seekers since April, when more than 800 died attempting to make the journey from northern Africa to the southern coast of Italy.
Related: UN says 800 migrants dead in boat disaster as Italy launches rescue of two more vesselsRelated: UN says 800 migrants dead in boat disaster as Italy launches rescue of two more vessels
“Those that were on deck would have managed to jump, some of them drowned and some of them were saved,” said Martin Xuereb of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station in Malta, one the groups involved in the rescue effort.“Those that were on deck would have managed to jump, some of them drowned and some of them were saved,” said Martin Xuereb of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station in Malta, one the groups involved in the rescue effort.
“I think it’s unlikely that any additional survivors will be picked up,” he told the BBC. Seven ships as well as helicopters have been involved in the search operation.“I think it’s unlikely that any additional survivors will be picked up,” he told the BBC. Seven ships as well as helicopters have been involved in the search operation.
The boat is believed to have hit rough weather relatively close to the Libyan coast and made a distress call that was received in Sicily. An Irish rescue boat called Le Niamh and another boat operated by MSF – Dignity I – were dispatched to the area. They were eventually joined by three other ships and a helicopter to assist in the rescue.The boat is believed to have hit rough weather relatively close to the Libyan coast and made a distress call that was received in Sicily. An Irish rescue boat called Le Niamh and another boat operated by MSF – Dignity I – were dispatched to the area. They were eventually joined by three other ships and a helicopter to assist in the rescue.
Save the Children, the relief agency, said it was anticipating that survivors of Wednesday’s tragedy would be landing in Palermo, Sicily, on Thursday morning where they are likely to be assessed and interviewed before heading into a so-called reception centre. Save the Children said it was anticipating that the survivors would be landing in Palermo, Sicily, on Thursday morning where they were likely to be assessed and interviewed before heading into a so-called reception centre.
The UN refugee agency, which was closely monitoring the situation, said about 25 bodies had been recovered by Wednesday evening but the death toll was expected to rise.The UN refugee agency, which was closely monitoring the situation, said about 25 bodies had been recovered by Wednesday evening but the death toll was expected to rise.
“We believe that the boat was carrying about 600 people, but we will never really know how many sunk,” said a spokesman for the UNHCR.“We believe that the boat was carrying about 600 people, but we will never really know how many sunk,” said a spokesman for the UNHCR.
The spokesman added that the rescue had been proceeding in a routine manner before disaster struck. Le Niamh had sent two mobile units to the distressed boat when the passengers apparently rushed to one side, tipping it over. The fact that the boat was metal meant that it sunk particularly fast, the UNHCR added.The spokesman added that the rescue had been proceeding in a routine manner before disaster struck. Le Niamh had sent two mobile units to the distressed boat when the passengers apparently rushed to one side, tipping it over. The fact that the boat was metal meant that it sunk particularly fast, the UNHCR added.
The tragedy was another reminder of just how treacherous the voyage from north Africa to Italy’s southern coast is for tens of thousands of asylum-seekers and refugees who are trying to reach Europe from Africa and the Middle East. More than 2,000 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration. The tragedy was another reminder of just how treacherous the voyage to Italy’s southern coast is for tens of thousands of asylum-seekers and refugees who are trying to reach Europe from Africa and the Middle East. More than 2,000 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Wolfango Piccoli, the managing director of Teneo Intelligence in London, said the latest tragedy was unlikely to have an impact on the political debate surrounding the sharp rise in migrants to Europe.Wolfango Piccoli, the managing director of Teneo Intelligence in London, said the latest tragedy was unlikely to have an impact on the political debate surrounding the sharp rise in migrants to Europe.
Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, has faced pressure to take a harder line against migrants, but has so far emphasised the need to save people who risk death at sea.Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, has faced pressure to take a harder line against migrants, but has so far emphasised the need to save people who risk death at sea.
“The Italian government is likely to call for more support from European partners while some opposition parties will try to exploit this new tragedy for political purposes, by denouncing the government’s approach and asking for tougher measures to stop the migrants,” Piccoli said.“The Italian government is likely to call for more support from European partners while some opposition parties will try to exploit this new tragedy for political purposes, by denouncing the government’s approach and asking for tougher measures to stop the migrants,” Piccoli said.