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| Libya migrant boat sinks: Scores feared drowned | Libya migrant boat sinks: Scores feared drowned |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Many migrants have drowned while trying to reach Europe after their boat sank off Libya, the Libyan navy says. | Many migrants have drowned while trying to reach Europe after their boat sank off Libya, the Libyan navy says. |
| Navy spokesman Ayub Qassem said 36 people had been rescued after the vessel - which carried 250 - went down near Tajoura, east of Tripoli. | |
| "There are so many dead bodies floating in the sea," Mr Qassem told reporters. | "There are so many dead bodies floating in the sea," Mr Qassem told reporters. |
| The tragedy comes just weeks after three vessels carrying migrants sank in quick succession on the route from Libya to Italy. | The tragedy comes just weeks after three vessels carrying migrants sank in quick succession on the route from Libya to Italy. |
| There has been a surge in the number of migrants leaving Libya this year, with human traffickers taking advantage of the chaos in Libya. | There has been a surge in the number of migrants leaving Libya this year, with human traffickers taking advantage of the chaos in Libya. |
| Rival militias have been battling for control of the country. | Rival militias have been battling for control of the country. |
| The navy and coastguard have few resources and often have to borrow boats from fishermen and other agencies. | The navy and coastguard have few resources and often have to borrow boats from fishermen and other agencies. |
| Mr Qassem said most of the migrants were Africans and many were women. | Mr Qassem said most of the migrants were Africans and many were women. |
| One of the 36 survivors was a pregnant woman, he told the AP news agency. |