Bangladeshis among several hundred feared dead

Bangladeshis are among several hundred feared dead as two boats carrying illegal migrants capsized in the sea off a Libyan city. Reuters report, more than five hundred people are feared to have killed as the migrants’ boat capsized off the Libyan city of Zuwara. BBC, quoting residents and officials of Zuwara, said the first boat, which signalled for help on Thursday, had nearly 50 people on board. The second overcrowded boat, which sank much later, had about 400 passengers. Officials said about 201 people had been rescued by the Libyan coast guard but many people appeared trapped in the hold when the boat capsized. A detention facility for illegal migrants in Sabratha, west of Libyan capital Tripoli, received 147 people, the officials said. At least 100 bodies were taken to a hospital in Zuwara, west of Tripoli, residents and hospital sources said. The victims included migrants from Bangladesh, Syria and several sub-Saharan African countries, the resident said, but the information could not be independently verified.
- biplab