As many as 700 are feared dead after a ship capsized overnight off the Libyan coast
Every day in the Mediterranean we're witnessing a massacre, the pain of so many people that we're turning a blind eye to
As if things could not get any worse, there is another tragic turn in the European migrant crisis.
At least 700 people are feared dead after a ship packed with migrants capsized overnight off the Libyan coast. About 30 have been rescued.
Earlier reports described the vessel as a fishing boat.
One survivor is being quoted by Italian media as saying the ship was carrying some 950 people.
It is reported there was panic on the vessel when people rushed to one side to attract the attention of another passing ship.
In the past week alone more than 13,000 migrants from war zones in Africa and the Middle East have been rescued attempting to reach Europe.
Reacting to news of the latest capsize,
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said: “Every day in the Mediterranean we’re witnessing a massacre, the pain of so many people that we’re turning a blind eye to.”
There is pressure on European leaders, with growing calls for more coordinated EU action.
Francois Hollande, the French President, said on Sunday: “It does concern us. The Mediterranean is our common sea, between Africa and Europe, so we must act.
“I have asked for an urgent meeting with all interior and foreign ministers, a summit of all these European ministers.”
The latest disaster could be one of the worst of its kind so far in the Mediterranean.
The deaths are expected to bring the number of known drownings since the start of the year to close to 1600.
Is the EU doing enough to solve the migrant crisis? 13,000 people rescued off coast of Italy in a week; 1,000 drownings so far this year …
Posted by euronews on Saturday, 18 April 2015
700 Libyans die in Mediterranean boat capsize, Pope appeals for world action http://t.co/JstP7fxxVDpic.twitter.com/tUUpnCXNob
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) April 19, 2015Again & again.The never-ending tragedy in the Mediterranean claims the lives of 400 people http://t.co/QyvZzXnaPUpic.twitter.com/rMknx4q6wl
— ECRE (@ecre) April 15, 2015Panic on Med migrant boat caused boat to capsize and pitch hundreds to their deaths: IOMhttp://t.co/Q3pSYmGdfJ via Reuters</a></p>— Niels W Frenzen (MigrantsAtSea) April 16, 2015