The boat was said to have sunk in the Tajoura area in east of the capital, Tripoli. The exact number of migrants in the boat is unclear but Libyan navy officials say they were more than 300 people on board when the disaster occurred due to the boat’s engine failure.
Some 26 survivors have been rescued and are currently in medical facilities receiving medical attention in Tripoli. Women were said to be part of those missing.
The Libyan navy spokesman, Ayub Qassem told reporters that there are dozens of dead bodies still floating on the water and rescue equipment is not enough for the navy to carry out its duties efficiently.
“There are so many dead bodies floating in the sea, the navy is under resourced so it is very difficult for us to carry out work”, he said.
Libya has been in turmoil since longtime ruler; Col. Muammar Gaddafi was disposed in a bloody uprising in 2011. The country has thereafter been flooded with many armed groups fighting for control, allowing smugglers to use the country as the hub for illegal activities including human and drug trafficking.
The Italian government said last week that more than 100,000 illegal migrants have reached Italy this year alone. Most of the migrants try to reach the Islands of Italy or Spain before travelling to mainland Europe.
More than 100 African emigrants died in a similar boat accident when they were also trying to reach Europe last month.
African illegal migrants, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa often use dangerous boats to try to reach Europe and other wealthy countries in the Middle East. And most of these dangerous missions end up in disaster.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News
Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail.com
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