700
migrants are feared dead after their packed 20-meter fishing boat
capsized off Libya today April 19th. Reports say the migrants, whose
boat was 70 miles (126 km) off the Libyan coast and 110 miles
(177 km)
south of the Italian
island of Lampedusa, issued a distress call to
Italy's coastguard who immediately instructed a nearby merchant ship to
go to its aid and it was when the merchant ship arrived at the scene
that the fishing boat capsized, most likely as the migrants tried to get
its attention, stampeding to one side of the boat.
UNHCR spokeswoman Carlotta Sami said today's shipwreck appears to be the worst in the Mediterranean
"It seems we are looking at the worst massacre ever seen in the Mediterranean,".
Meanwhile
28 people survived the incident while 24 bodies have been recovered
from the water. 17 Coastal boats are currently combing the Mediterranean
to see if there are still possible survivors.