At least 114 people died when a migrant boat sank near the coast of Sicily on Thursday, and the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
About 500 people were believed to be on the boat that sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa — a popular have for migrants — and more than 150 people had been rescued as of Thursday afternoon, the Associated Press reports. More than 200 were still unaccounted for. Local media reports said at least one child and a pregnant woman are among the dead.
Coast Guard ships and helicopters from across the region, as well as local fishing boats, are on the scene trying to find survivors in the sea, said Coast Guard spokesman Marco di Milla according to the Independent.
The migrants aboard the boat were reportedly from Eritrea, Ghana and Somalia.
[AP]
[Independent]