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Up to 400 feared dead after boat capsizes in Mediterranean

Tension is currently mounting in Italy over a recent influx of migrants.

 

Italy Europe Migrants Rescued migrants wait to disembark from an Italian Coast Guard ship in the harbor of Palermo, Sicily. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

UP TO 400 illegal migrants died after their vessel capsized off the Libyan coast at the weekend, according to survivors who have now been brought to Italy, where tension is mounting over a surge in boat arrivals from North Africa.

The Italian coastguard on Monday said they had managed to rescue 144 of the people on the sunken vessel, while nine bodies were also recovered.

The International Organization for Migration and the charity Save the Children said between 144 and 150 survivors arrived at Reggio Calabria, on Italy’s southern tip, on Tuesday morning.

“There were 400 victims in this shipwreck, which occurred 24 hours after (their vessel) left the Libyan coast,” Save the Children said in a statement, citing survivors.

Italy Migrants A Red Cross officer carries a baby wrapped in a blanket after migrants disembarked at the Sicilian Porto Empedocle harbour AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

“There were several young males, probably minors, among the victims” and also children among those rescued, the international NGO said.

IOM spokesman in Italy Flavio Di Giacomo told AFP several of the survivors had told his organisation there were between 500 and 550 people on board when the ship sank:

We are continuing to investigate in order to understand how the shipwreck happened.

Initial investigations indicate the boat may have capsized after passengers started moving when they saw the Italian rescue team.

The latest tragedy came as Italian authorities said around 8,500 migrants had been rescued at sea between Friday and Monday, reigniting a debate in Italy about whether the country has a duty to house all new arrivals.

Recent good weather in the Mediterranean has prompted a spike in the number of migrants attempting to reach Italy aboard boats.

An increasingly violent and chaotic situation in Libya, a key jumping off point for migrants, has also helped prompt the hike in asylum seekers trying to make it to Europe.

Italian authorities say more than 15,000 migrants have arrived so far in 2015. There were 15,000 in April alone last year and an average of 25,000 each month between June and September.

© AFP 2015.

Explainer: What’s happening in Libya and why is it important?

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    Mute James Groden
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    May 24th 2023, 8:30 AM

    “Roll up and see for yourselves how copy and paste works in journalism!”

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    Mute Andrew Lavelle
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    May 24th 2023, 9:07 AM

    @James Groden: watch as we delete all comments that don’t agree with our opinion and in some cases don’t allow comments at all!

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    Mute Zim Zimma
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    May 24th 2023, 9:11 AM

    Watch as we slightly reword Government press releases on various subjects where the public are told to get back in our boxes and do what we’re told and then turn the comment section off, because we don’t don’t want any dissenting voices.

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    Mute Antbony Kearns
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    May 24th 2023, 9:34 AM

    Watch as we shut down the comment section when too many comments go against the narrative.. Breaking News! “Ten People killed in overnight raids in Gaza” Yea shut down comments on that one, as we don’t want People giving out about Israel.. Journalists my ar_se

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 24th 2023, 11:35 AM

    In the past few weeks statements made by government Minister’s, the comment section has been closed. The taking down of comments that contain no personal or unacceptable comment but would have been critical of government have been removed. Bit hypocritical of the Journal.

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    Mute Joe x
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    May 24th 2023, 1:25 PM

    @William slevin: respond to what? your mas ravings? No point. At this stage I pity you.

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    Mute William slevin
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    May 24th 2023, 1:52 PM

    @establishment loyalist fascist lil joey:

    I didn’t ignore it no offence I forgot about it…also its not a priority to reply to every reply you make to me which is alot…

    But I think it was about the 70 year old assaulted in clare? I don’t know the circumstances of the assault but I’m guessing your employing it was done by anti mass immigration protestors….do you have proof of this? But let’s say it’s true I have no idea….I abhor violence against anyone unless its done for defensive reasons….if this 70 year old man was attacked by one of the protestors….then I would condemned such an attack as that infringes on the right of the 70 year old not to be assaulted for no reason…

    So I would condemn such an attack

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    Mute Joe x
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    May 24th 2023, 1:44 PM

    @William slevin: why willie and leave your mad raving influence others wrongly. Like your support for the protest in Clare….you know the one….I asked for your view of what happemed there on Sunday…and you ignored my question…..

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    Mute William slevin
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    May 24th 2023, 2:03 PM

    Also you repeatedly ignore me asking you for proof of the false claim you keep making against me that I’ve incited hatred…well Where’s your proof…I want the comments and the articles where I supposedly incited hatred….

    You haven’t so far because you can’t…because your a liar….

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