[Aljazeera] A boat carrying scores of refugees and migrants has capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tunisia, killing at least 65 people, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).UNHCR said in a statement on Friday that 16 survivors were pulled from the water after the vessel sank "in one of the worst incidents on the Mediterranean in months".
"This is a tragic and terrible reminder of the risks still faced by those who attempt to cross the Mediterranean," said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR's special envoy for the Mediterranean.
Only four bodies have been recovered so far and search operations were ongoing, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a Twitter post.
| Update from Al Ahram at noon EDT: |
Survivors told the Red Islamic Thingy the tragedy unfolded after some 75 people who had left Zuwara on the northwestern Libyan coast late Thursday on a large boat were transferred to a smaller one that sank off Tunisia.
"The
The survivors said they spent eight hours trapped in the cold sea before they were spotted by the fishermen who alerted the Tunisian coastguard, Slim said.
Survivors said the boat was heading to Italia and had on board only men, 51 from Bangladesh, as well as three Egyptians, several Moroccans, Chadians and other Africans.
Fourteen Bangladeshi nationals, including a minor, were among the survivors, said the Red Islamic Thingy.
Charity ships have plied the Mediterranean Sea to rescue
On Friday, however, more than 60
According to the UNHCR, the journey across the Mediterranean "is becoming increasingly fatal for those who risk it".
"In the first four months of this year, one person has died (crossing the Mediterranean) for every three that have reached European shores, after departing from Libya," it said.