LIBYA: The bodies of about 100 migrants have been retrieved following a shipwreck off the coast of Libya

Record ID: 348787

  • Title: LIBYA: The bodies of about 100 migrants have been retrieved following a shipwreck off the coast of Libya
  • Date: 25th August 2014
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS PUTTING BODIES INTO BAGS VARIOUS OF A GROUP OF BLACK BODY BAGS ON THE SHORE
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABSMWT0IHRCT4LKVTB8IDLVO8C
  • Story Text: Rescuers said on Monday (August 25) they had retrieved about 100 bodies from a shipwreck off the coast of Libya.
    The boat sank late on Friday (August 22) a kilometre off the coast, east of the capital Tripoli.
    One member of the coast guard who did not want to be identified told Reuters Television that it was suspected dozens more people might still be missing.

    "So far we pulled out around 100 bodies from the shipwreck at the bottom of the sea to the surface and that's apart from the bodies that being washed on the shore. We think the complete number is around 170, maybe 180," said the coast guard.
    Thousands of migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, have crowded into rickety vessels in recent months in an effort to reach Italian shores. Many boats have been wrecked.
    The total number reaching Italian shores has passed 100,000 in 2014, the Italian government said this week.
    Libya is a major departure point for this journey, and human traffickers are exploiting the political chaos and lawlessness that has blighted the country since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in an uprising in 2011.
    Libya is facing anarchy as the weak central government is unable to control armed groups who helped oust Gaddafi but now have turned their arms on themselves.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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