67 illegal migrants drown off Libya’s coast

BY Libyan Express Nov 21, 2019 - 16:41

Migrants reacued by Libyan coastguards off Garabulli. [Photo: Social Media]

67 migrants have drowned after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya’s northwestern coast, according to Italian media.

A fisherman reported the incident to Alarm-Phone-Initiative, a self-organized hotline for refugees in distress in the Mediterranean Sea, ANSA news agency said late Wednesday.

At least 67 people died while 30 others were rescued, the agency said, adding the migrants were trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.

Last month, the Ocean Viking brought 176 migrants to the port city of Taranto. A couple of weeks later, it brought around 100 more migrants to a Sicilian port. The government allowed those dockings after months of legal and political wrangling over migrant ships in Italy. The country had previously denied safe harbor to rescue ships under the former hardline interior minister, Matteo Salvini.

The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express.
How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@libyanexpress.com. Please include ‘Op-Ed’ in the subject line.