Tuesday 8 July 2014

27 Gambian migrants among dead aboard ship to Italy


At least 27 of the 45 illegal migrants found dead in a boat on its way to Italy last week were Gambian, police sources said Monday.

The victims were among hundreds of other African migrants trying to cross Libya to Italy. The dead were discovered by rescuers in the hold of a ship in waters off Sicily.

"It has been confirmed to us that 27 people among those who died last week are Gambians, which is sad news to us," a senior police officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"We are really worried and so concerned about the death of our citizens who do take this clandestine journey to Europe, through North African Arab countries. These are really our concerns," the officer added.

According to the Italian police, 45 African migrants were found in the narrowest part of the boat, which was carrying more than double its capacity, and are thought to have suffocated. 566 survivors were rescued.

Tuesday 08 July 2014

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=228439

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