At least 40 Europe-bound migrants were missing and feared drowned on Tuesday after the boat they were traveling in capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, the coast guard and the U.N. refugee agency said. Ayoub Gassim, a spokesman for Libya’s coast guard, told The Associated Press that at least five bodies, including a child, were recovered near the western town of Khoms, around 75 miles east of Tripoli.
Gassim said the coast guard rescued at least 65 migrants, mostly from Sudan, and that search operations were underway for those still missing.
Charlie Yaxley, a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency, said at least 40 people were estimated to be dead or missing.
Alarm Phone, an independent support group for people crossing the Mediterranean, said up to 100 migrants were on board the capsized vessel.
The group said it received a call from migrants on the boat, who “were in severe distress, crying and shouting, telling us that people had died already.”
Source: CBS
