About 40 dead as migrant boat sinks south of Sicily

onnaedo

May 5, 2015 4:43 PM

Save the Children's representative in Catania, Giovanna di Benedetto said the latest sinking is thought to have happened on Sunday, but the exact toll was not known.

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Several have been left dead after a migrant boat carrying an estimated 137 people sank south of Sicily.

This was made known by aid group, Save the Children who said survivors reported up to 40 people falling into the sea as a rescue vessel was approaching.

BBC reports that the survivors arrived in the city of Catania today, Tuesday.

Save the Children's representative in Catania, Giovanna di Benedetto said the latest sinking is thought to have happened on Sunday, but the exact toll was not known.

Benedetto narrating the ordeal of the survivors said 137 people had been aboard an inflatable boat that deflated or exploded (it wasn't clear) causing some people to fall overboard.

About 40 people are thought to have died in the accident, while about 100 people were found on a second boat, with no deaths reported.

According to BBC, the number of migrants attempting to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean has risen in recent weeks as smugglers take advantage of fair weather.

About 7,000 people have been rescued and 10 bodies recovered off the Libyan coast in the last 3 days while at least 1,750 people have died this year trying to cross the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, European Union (EU) nations agreed last month to triple funding for rescue operations run by European border agency Frontex.

onnaedo