A boat overloaded with migrants sailing from Libya capsized south south of the island of Lampedusa , off Sicily, early today. Fifteen are confirmed dead and between 130 and 250 are believed to be missing.
Migrant boat sinks off Italy, up to 250 missing
While the ongoing civil war in Libya has accelerated migration, this route from North Africa to Southern Europe is busy and treacherous under any circumstances. Two years ago, another overloaded craft sank killing over 200 not far from the Libyan coast.
Death toll tops 200 after migrant boat sinks
Thousands of African, Asian and Middle Eastern migrants fleeing wars and poverty use Libya and other North African countries as launching pads for the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to southern Europe — often in rickety, overloaded boats.
Hundreds are believed to die in the journey each year. The route between Libya to an island off the coast of southern Italy is one of the most heavily traveled for illegal migrants trying to reach Europe.
WSJ:EUROPE NEWS APRIL 7, 2011
Boatload of Migrants Fleeing Libya Lost at Sea
Up to 200 Refugees Missing in Cold Waters, 15 Found Dead; Europe Struggles With Influx From Turbulent North Africa
BY STACY MEICHTRY
ROME—Italian authorities were losing hope of rescuing more than 200 migrants who remained lost at sea on Wednesday after a boat that had been ferrying them from Libya to Italy capsized in rough waters.
The migrants are part of the increasing flow of people that are trying to escape unrest in North Africa and reach Europe’s shores, even though European authorities have not come up with a coordinated policy on how to deal with the influx.
By Wednesday evening, Italy’s coast guard had rescued 53 from a group of up to 300 believed to be aboard a boat that sank …
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704101604576246332319332012.html
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