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Malta boat sinking 'leaves 500 dead' - IOM Malta boat sinking 'leaves 500 dead' - IOM
(about 1 hour later)
About 500 migrants are feared dead after their ship was rammed by another boat near Malta last week, a migration body said.About 500 migrants are feared dead after their ship was rammed by another boat near Malta last week, a migration body said.
Two Palestinian survivors told the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) that the boat had been intentionally sunk by traffickers.Two Palestinian survivors told the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) that the boat had been intentionally sunk by traffickers.
They said the boat had left Damietta in Egypt in early September.They said the boat had left Damietta in Egypt in early September.
The IOM says that more than 2,500 people are now believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean this year.
News of the sinking near Malta emerged as another vessel carrying 250 people sank off the coast of Libya.News of the sinking near Malta emerged as another vessel carrying 250 people sank off the coast of Libya.
Over 200 people are feared to have drowned in that incident.Over 200 people are feared to have drowned in that incident.
Thousands of migrants have drowned in recent years as they attempt to reach Europe from North Africa and the Middle East. 'Violent confrontation'
Many do so in unsafe and overcrowded vessels. IOM spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume said that the two survivors from the Malta sinking were rescued on Thursday, the day after their boat sank.
Violent confrontation They said traffickers rammed the boat after a "violent confrontation" on board. The IOM said there were nine known survivors in total.
IOM spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume said that the two survivors were rescued on Thursday, the day after their boat sank. The boat had been carrying Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese, the survivors said.
They said traffickers rammed the boat after an argument on board. The IOM said there were nine known survivors in total. The passengers, who included women and children, were reportedly told to move to a smaller, less safe boat. When they refused, the traffickers sank the larger vessel, the eyewitnesses said.
The boat had been carrying Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese, they said. The passengers included women and children.
The passengers were reportedly told to move to a smaller, less safe boat.
When they refused, the traffickers sank the larger vessel, the eyewitnesses said.
The Maltese authorities have not yet commented on the incident.The Maltese authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
The UN says more than 130,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea this year, compared with 80,000 this year. Italy has received more than 118,000 migrants, the UN said.
Many attempt to cross from North Africa and the Middle East in unsafe and overcrowded vessels.
The UN's Andrej Mahecic told the BBC that more than half of those arriving by boat were refugees from Syria and Eritrea.