China
09:09, 20-Jun-2017
Survivors say some 126 migrants feared dead in wreck
[]
Share
Copied
Some 126 migrants are feared to have died off the coast of Libya last week after smugglers stole the motor of their boat and fled, leading the vessel to sink, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday, citing survivors.
IOM spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo said two Sudanese and two Nigerian survivors, who were brought to Palermo's port by an Italian coast guard ship on Monday, told authorities in Sicily the migrant boat had been carrying about 130 people, mainly from Sudan.
Passing Libyan fishermen rescued the four and put them on another migrant boat. All the passengers were transferred to the coast guard ship after rescuers found the boat.
The coast guard has sent nearly 1,100 rescued migrants to Sicily from the central Mediterranean in the past few days, AP said, adding medical checks and interviews are needed as part of their asylum requests.
8343km