Survivors say at least 60 migrants died in Mediterranean shipwreck on way to Europe

Back to homepage / Europe At least 60 people died on a migrant boat that lost power as it tried to reach Europe from Libya, an aid group said Thursday, citing accounts from those rescued. Issued on: 14/03/2024 – 17:51 1 min This photo taken on March 13, 2024 and handout on March 14, 2024 […]

T Kauer T Kauer
Mar 18, 2024 - 01:30
Survivors say at least 60 migrants died in Mediterranean shipwreck on way to Europe

Survivors say at least 60 migrants died in Mediterranean shipwreck on way to Europe thumbnail

At least 60 people died on a migrant boat that lost power as it tried to reach Europe from Libya, an aid group said Thursday, citing accounts from those rescued.

Issued on:

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This photo taken on March 13, 2024 and handout on March 14, 2024 by international humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee, shows a rescuing operation of migrants by the Ocean Viking rescue vessel.
This photo taken on March 13, 2024 and handout on March 14, 2024 by international humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee, shows a rescuing operation of migrants by the Ocean Viking rescue vessel in the Libyan search and rescue region in international waters. © Johanna de Tessieres / Handout , AFP

“Survivors report that at least 60 people died en route, including women and at least one child,” said Marseille-based SOS Mediterranee.

The group’s Ocean Viking rescue ship is currently heading for port, carrying 224 people rescued from different boats.

Among them are 25 from a boat that survivors said had set off from Zawiya, Libya on March 8 — only for its motor to give out three days later.

According to 1st testimonies, the boat spent approx. a week lost at sea. Survivors recount that many people perished & are now missing.
All survivors are under medical care & an urgent medical evacuation has been requested for 2 persons found unconscious & in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/VFmS91KWf3

— SOS MEDITERRANEE (@SOSMedIntl) March 13, 2024

UN body the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said it was “deeply troubled by news of a shipwreck in the Central Mediterranean”.

Passengers reported drifting without food or water for several days, said SOS Mediterranee.

It was not immediately clear how those who died were said to have lost their lives. AFP was not in an immediate position to confirm the toll.

Ocean Viking also has aboard 113 people recovered on Wednesday night and a further 88 rescued on Thursday from “an overloaded inflatable craft”.

It has been directed to Ancona on Italy’s eastern coast, which SOS Mediterrannee said was 1,450 kilometres (900 miles) from its current position.

The aid group said it had asked Italian authorities for “somewhere closer to put ashore”.

SOS Mediterranee has rescued more than 39,000 people in the Mediterranean since 2016 — most of them on the Central Mediterranean route, the world’s most dangerous migrant passage.

Last year, 3,105 migrants died or were reported missing attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, according to IOM figures.

The count has reached 278 so far this year.

(AFP)

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