100 Refugees Missing after Boat Sinks off Libya
Local Editor
Nearly 100 refugees are missing after their boat sank off the Libyan coast near Tripoli, a coastguard official said.
Coastguard spokesman Ayoub Qassem said 23 people were rescued from the craft off Gargaresh, a western suburb of Tripoli.
Survivors said the inflatable boat had set off with about 120 on board.
"Some 97 are still missing, including 15 women and children," Qassem said.
"What happened is that the base of the boat got wrecked and the boat had sunk."
A 16-year-old boy, believed to be the only survivor of the disaster, told rescuers at least five children and several pregnant women were among those who drowned.
The latest tragedy comes after Libya suspended a deal struck with Italy to reduce refugee boat crossings across the Mediterranean Sea.
The justice ministry in Tripoli did not give a reason for the move.
"The justice ministry of the Government of National Accord [GNA] confirms that the court is still examining the issue in order pending a ruling, and that no final judgement has been issued," it said.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
