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| Migrants suffocated in overcrowded hold of boat, say reports | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| At least 40 migrants have died from inhaling exhaust fumes in the hold of a boat in the Mediterranean. Commander Massimo Tozzi, speaking from the navy ship Cigala Fulgosi, which came to the aid of the overcrowded boat, said: “The dead were found in the hold.” He said the migrants appeared to have died after inhaling exhaust fumes. | At least 40 migrants have died from inhaling exhaust fumes in the hold of a boat in the Mediterranean. Commander Massimo Tozzi, speaking from the navy ship Cigala Fulgosi, which came to the aid of the overcrowded boat, said: “The dead were found in the hold.” He said the migrants appeared to have died after inhaling exhaust fumes. |
| When rescuers boarded the boat, the migrants’ bodies were found “lying in water, fuel, human excrement” in the hold, Tozzi said. | When rescuers boarded the boat, the migrants’ bodies were found “lying in water, fuel, human excrement” in the hold, Tozzi said. |
| The death toll could still rise further. “They are still counting the victims,” Italy’s interior minister, Angelino Alfano, said. | The death toll could still rise further. “They are still counting the victims,” Italy’s interior minister, Angelino Alfano, said. |
| About 320 people had been rescued by the navy from the boat, which was 21 miles (33km) off the coast of Libya. | About 320 people had been rescued by the navy from the boat, which was 21 miles (33km) off the coast of Libya. |
| Tozzi said the survivors included three children and 45 women, some of whom “were crying for their husbands [and] their children who died in the crossing”. The navy said that the survivors were later transferred to a Norwegian ship with the Frontex mission, a European effort to save migrant lives in the Mediterranean, to be taken to a southern Italian port. | Tozzi said the survivors included three children and 45 women, some of whom “were crying for their husbands [and] their children who died in the crossing”. The navy said that the survivors were later transferred to a Norwegian ship with the Frontex mission, a European effort to save migrant lives in the Mediterranean, to be taken to a southern Italian port. |
| At least 2,100 migrants have died at sea this year trying to make the crossing from the shores of Libya, where human traffickers are based, to Europe in a bid to flee war, persecution and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Smugglers have taken advantage of the increased chaos and fighting among Libya’s tribes and militias, some of whom are loyal to the Islamic State group, following the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. | At least 2,100 migrants have died at sea this year trying to make the crossing from the shores of Libya, where human traffickers are based, to Europe in a bid to flee war, persecution and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Smugglers have taken advantage of the increased chaos and fighting among Libya’s tribes and militias, some of whom are loyal to the Islamic State group, following the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. |
| Related: Greece sends cruise ship to ease Kos migrant crisis | Related: Greece sends cruise ship to ease Kos migrant crisis |
| “Either the international community is able to resolve the Libyan question, or today’s [migrant tragedy] won’t be the last,” Alfano said. | “Either the international community is able to resolve the Libyan question, or today’s [migrant tragedy] won’t be the last,” Alfano said. |
| Survivors of the hazardous crossing often tell of traffickers locking migrants who pay less for the voyage in the hold. They not only risk drowning if the rickety boats capsize, but many also die after being overcome by diesel fumes. | Survivors of the hazardous crossing often tell of traffickers locking migrants who pay less for the voyage in the hold. They not only risk drowning if the rickety boats capsize, but many also die after being overcome by diesel fumes. |
| The International Organisation for Migration said that Italy has rescued 93,540 people so far this year, while Greece has reported 134,988 arrivals from Turkey. Along with migrants landing in Spain and Malta, 237,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean this year, the agency said, compared with 219,000 in the whole of 2014. | The International Organisation for Migration said that Italy has rescued 93,540 people so far this year, while Greece has reported 134,988 arrivals from Turkey. Along with migrants landing in Spain and Malta, 237,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean this year, the agency said, compared with 219,000 in the whole of 2014. |
| The EU said on Friday that Europe was facing its worst refugee crisis since the second world war. | The EU said on Friday that Europe was facing its worst refugee crisis since the second world war. |