Migrant boats capsize off Libya

 24 minutes ago

• From the section Africa

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Hundreds of people are feared dead after two boats carrying up to 500 migrants capsized off the Libyan city of Zuwara, residents and officials say.

The first boat, which signalled for help early on Thursday, had nearly 50 people on board.
The second, which sank much later, had as many as 400 passengers.
The Libyan coastguard is still conducting a rescue operation for that boat, but most of those who were on board are feared dead.
At least 100 bodies were taken to a hospital in Zuwara, west of Tripoli, a resident told the BBC.
The victims included migrants from Syria, Bangladesh and several sub-Saharan African countries, the resident said, but the information could not be independently verified.
About 2,400 migrants have died trying to cross the sea to Europe so far this year, the UN says.
On Wednesday, the bodies of at least 51 people were found in the hold of a stricken ship off the coast of Libya.