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A serious accident occurred off the coast of Libya. At least 74 people drowned in the sinking of a boat carrying refugees. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced Thursday. It is said that more than 120 people were on board the ship, including children.
47 survivors were taken ashore by the coast guard and fishermen, the IOM said. 31 bodies were recovered. The search for victims continues.
Time and again, migrants die in accidents in the Mediterranean. IOM said that in the past two days alone, two boats capsized and at least 19 people drowned.
On Wednesday, Spanish private rescuers rescued more than 110 Libyan migrants from distress. Shortly after being rescued from the Mediterranean, a six-month-old refugee baby died on the “Open Arms” ship, according to aides. As the Open Arms announced on Thursday, the team pulled five people killed during the operation out of the water. With the baby, the death toll rose to six.
Many people continue to leave in small boats in the North African countries of Tunisia and Libya to reach Europe. Several ships with hundreds of people landed on the island of Lampedusa in recent days. According to official figures, a total of almost 31,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far in 2020. In 2019 there were just under 10,000 people in the same period.
