Hundreds Feared Dead After Migrant Ship Capsizes in Mediterranean - East Idaho News
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Hundreds Feared Dead After Migrant Ship Capsizes in Mediterranean

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Getty 041915 ItalianCoastGuard?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1429476448158Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images(ROME) — As many as 700 refugees and migrants were reportedly onboard a boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday morning, with many feared dead.

Adrian Edwards, Head of News and Chief Spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, called the incident a “catastrophe” on Twitter, noting that it “may be [the] biggest ever.” Similar incidents aren’t terribly uncommon. Edwards noted on Twitter that in 219,000 crossings last year, 3,500 people died. In about 35,000 crossings in 2015 — Sunday’s notwithstanding — 950 individuals have died.

 

Numerous ships are involved in the search for survivors, though Italian news agency ANSA reported only 28 survivors had been picked up through Sunday afternoon local time.

The Maltese Navy is assisting Italian officials with the search.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is calling for a European Union meeting on immigration as soon as possible.

The United Nations Human Rights Campaign reported saving thousands of migrants from the Mediterranean last week.

 


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