Three sisters have drowned after a “dangerously overcrowded” migrant boat heading to Italy overturned. Rescuers rushed to save the migrants coming from Libya, but the bodies of the sisters, aged 9, 11 and 17, were found inside the boat.
65 others were rescued by migrant charity RESQSHIP, with their Nadir vessel scrambled to assist as the boat was buffeted by waves 1.5m (4.9-feet) high, as per Reuters. The organisation said in a statement that one person fell overboard earlier in the crossing and has yet to be found.
RESQSHIP said the rubber vessel Thewas “dangerously overcrowded”, and that those taken to safety included children, a seven-month-old baby, and three pregnant women.
The Nadir is a 19-meter motor glider, the Nadir that operates in the central Mediterranean, “observing, documenting, reconnoitring – and if there is no other ship around, we help people in distress at sea, as required by international maritime law”, the charity explains on its website.
RESQSHIP said the migrant boat had departed from Zuwara, a coastal city in Libya, overnight on Friday.
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit: /news
Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/DailyExpress and @daily_express