Libya boat capsize: At least 36 migrants dead
At least 36 migrants drowned when their boat sank off the Libyan coast earlier this week, officials said, following the recovery of more bodies on Sunday. The navy said it rescued 52 people when the boat
At least 36 migrants drowned when their boat sank off the Libyan coast earlier this week, officials said, following the recovery of more bodies on Sunday.
The navy said it rescued 52 people when the boat sank on Tuesday, but survivors say there were 130 people on board.
On Saturday Libya’s interior minister urged the European Union (EU) to do more to help stem the flow of migrants.
Libya is the preferred crossing point for many African migrants trying to enter the EU.
Libyan navy spokesman Ayoub Kassem told the BBC that the boat capsized about 4km (2.5 miles) out to sea near the Libyan coastal town of Garabouli.
The bottom of the boat had collapsed, causing it to capsize, he said. At least 54 people remain missing, he added.
On Sunday 24 more bodies were recovered from the sea near Garabouli, bringing the death toll to 36.
Mr Kassem added that the migrants were from various sub-Saharan African countries including Mali, Cameroon, Ghana, Gambia and Burkina Faso.
The search continues for the remaining passengers.
Interior Minister Saleh Mazek said on Saturday that Libya could not cope with the amount of migrants arriving from sub-Saharan Africa.
He warned the EU that if it did not “shoulder its responsibility”, then Libya may help the migrants to reach Europe.
The Libyan government has since issued a statement saying that it would continue to co-operate with all partners in order to stop illegal immigration.
Libya has been plagued by instability since armed groups toppled Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.
Source: BBC
hmm May 11, 2014
The header for this article should read as follows
Libya boat capsizes: At least 36 suicidal migrants committed suicide.
Tekle May 12, 2014
Hundred percent agree with you.
Tes May 12, 2014
Hmm & Tekle(kulkul ahka tetekel)!!The two losers! Soulless idiots. HGDEF Doges who are morally bankrupt.
simerrr2012 May 12, 2014
hmm and Tekle,
Go and search the meaning of suicide in English dictionary before you easily condemn reaction of the refugees. Each refugee has its own story to tell and do not judge before you know the reason behind. Sometimes you take a very dangerous risks to escape from the situation and conditions to make a difference in your life and life of your families. I wish those Eritreans, who committed suicide in Sawa and elsewhere in Eritrea, could have tried the journey and at least 50% of them could have saved their life. Imagine you two guys were in Sawa slavery camp and daily treated like criminals in your own country, imagine if you were a woman and the retarded officers rape you every time they get drunks, imagine you spend all your best time serving the dictator, building private houses of the officers. Imagine you spent all best time for nothing but again be an items of the dictator. I do agree if someone say why these people will not take the risk to change the system who make them flee their own country but this is sometime a million dollar question.
Kalighe May 12, 2014
“Imagine you two guys were in Sawa slavery camp and daily treated like criminals in your own country, imagine if you were a woman and the retarded officers rape you every time they get drunks, imagine you spend all your best time serving the dictator, building private houses of the officers.”
simerrr2012
These stupid guys are good only at insulting and trying to demoralize Eritreans. Instead of condemning the dictator’s crime (their cousin) they laugh at the victims, enjoy seen them perishing in deserts and high seas.
Shame on you rootless !!
hmmm May 12, 2014
I am less attractive for an Eritrean officer to rape because I am a man, but if some one was about to try, I will cut of his D and die with dignity. The rush to go to Europe with the aim of taking advantage of the sympathy in the aftermath of Lampadusa tragedy is disgusting and morally corrupt. It is accomplished by those of you who who are paying the smugglers and encouraging the kids to try such risky trips. As far as I am concerned these kids know the chance of survival is 50% as you admitted, you may call it whatever but it is a suicidal mission. You are part of the problem that is why you justify this abnormal migration of the youth from our country. The main enemies of Eritrea are people like you, Weyane and PFDJ. You are all working in tandem to destroy Eritrea and rape it of its human resources.
selamawit2 May 12, 2014
R.I.P
major May 12, 2014
ርእሲ ዘለዎ ኤርትራዊ እምበር ተሳኢኑ!!! ክንዲ ኣሕዋትና ኣምላክ ዪሓልኩምስ ካስማ ክክክክክክክ፡ነናትኩም ኣድረስ ተቀያዪርኩም ዘይትገብርዋ ካስማኩም፡ ደናቁር “”ልቢ ኣልቦ””።
hmm May 12, 2014
I am not shading tears no more for these suicidal cowards who took a big risk to run away from the delusional dictator when they could have taken less riskier campaign to win back their freedom. That is what people from other countries do they fight for their freedom look at South Sudan, Ukraine, Syria etc… only Eritreans run like a scared monkey just to end up a lunch for hungry hyena.