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Migrant boat wrecked off Libya Hundreds feared drowned off Libya
(about 2 hours later)
Hundreds of people are feared dead after at least one boat packed with suspected illegal migrants heading for Europe sank off the coast of Libya. More than 300 African migrants are feared dead after their boats sank off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says.
Libyan officials said at least 21 people had died and about 20 were rescued after a vessel reportedly carrying 250 people went down. A few bodies have washed ashore after at least one and possibly three boats capsized in very high winds.
There are unconfirmed reports that up to two more boats, carrying more than 300 people, also sank in the same area. Libyan officials say 21 people are confirmed dead and about 20 rescued.
Tens of thousands of migrants attempt to reach Europe by sea every year. The IOM says the death toll could be as high as 500 and it has reports of many migrant boats leaving Libya in the past two days.
Italy has announced that it will soon start joint sea patrols with Libya aimed at stopping the heavy influx of illegal migrants. Italy is to start joint sea patrols in May with Libya, aimed at stopping the heavy influx of illegal migrants.
Libyan search and rescue operations led to the recovery of the bodies of those who drowned Ahmed Rizk Egyptian foreign ministry class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7632429.stm"> Migrants risk all from Libyan port class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7871224.stm"> Italy's migrants slowly integrating class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6228236.stm"> Key facts: Africa migration According to IOM figures, at least 33,000 people crossed from North Africa to the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2008 alone.
Laurence Hart, of the International Organization for Migration, said he feared as many as 500 migrants from three boats could be missing. Mother and son
"There is still a slim chance that some of these people are going to be rescued but the casualties are going to be high of course," he told BBC World TV. "Libyan authorities have confirmed the shipwrecks and our diplomatic sources in Tripoli are talking about 300 people missing," said IOM spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy.
Mother and baby There is still a slim chance that some of these people are going to be rescued but the casualties are going to be high of course Laurence HartInternational Organization for Migration class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7632429.stm"> Migrants risk all from Libyan port class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7871224.stm"> Italy's migrants slowly integrating class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6228236.stm"> Key facts: Africa migration
The vessel reportedly carrying more than 250 people ran into difficulties shortly after setting off from Sidi Bilal, near Libya's capital, Tripoli. "It seems the three boats were overloaded and sank in storm-strength winds," he added.
In Cairo, Egyptian foreign ministry official Ahmed Rizk said the boat had sunk some 30km (19 miles) off the Libyan coast after getting holed in the hull.
"Libyan search and rescue operations led to the recovery of the bodies of those who drowned as a result of the accident, among them the bodies of 10 Egyptians," said Mr Rizk.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says among the dead was an African woman found lifelessly clutching an infant to her bosom, according to Libyan media reports.The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says among the dead was an African woman found lifelessly clutching an infant to her bosom, according to Libyan media reports.
The nationalities of other migrants on the boat were not immediately known, but reports said they included Tunisians and Palestinians. One vessel carrying more than 250 people reportedly ran into difficulty shortly after setting off on Sunday from Sidi Bilal, near Libya's capital, Tripoli.
'Drifting' Egypt's foreign ministry said the boat had sunk some 30km (19 miles) off the Libyan coast after getting holed in the hull.
Unconfirmed reports from Reuters news agency said another boat with 342 migrants aboard had also sunk after leaving Libya. "Libyan search and rescue operations led to the recovery of the bodies of those who drowned as a result of the accident, among them the bodies of 10 Egyptians," said official Ahmed Rizk.
A Libyan official, who did not wish to be named, told Reuters on Monday that both shipwrecks had taken place "in the past two days" and that search and rescue operations were continuing. Laurence Hart, of the IOM in Tripoli, said he feared as many as 500 migrants could be lost.
The agency's Libyan sources said that two more boats were "drifting off Libya's coast but we do not know the exact conditions and the number of the migrants on board". "There is still a slim chance that some of these people are going to be rescued but the casualties are going to be high of course," he told BBC World TV.
Libya has become a popular transit point for illegal migrants hoping to start a new life in Europe. The nationalities of the migrants are reported to have included Egyptians, Tunisians and Palestinians.
Many of the would-be migrants come from Egypt, where there is a high rate of youth unemployment. They usually head for Italy. FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml"> More from BBC World Service
Often the vessels they use are not seaworthy, which can mean they end up in difficulties. At least 40 people drowned when a boat sank while making the crossing last June. On Monday, 350 illegal migrants in a fourth boat were reportedly rescued by an Italian tanker near Libya after running into trouble.
According to official figures, more than 30,000 migrants reached Italy's shores last year. Hundreds of migrants have died in the last few months crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe, and the Gulf of Aden from Somalia to Yemen.
They are at the mercy of unscrupulous smugglers, unseaworthy vessels and the elements but many take these risks for the lure of a better life.
The smuggling season normally stops in October, and resumes again in April.
But the IOM says there has been no lull this year and the smuggling boats have been sailing right through the winter.
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