Dozens of migrants are drowning in the sea

tripoli - At least 31 people drowned in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya. The drama took place on Saturday. The Libyan Coast Guard managed to save about two hundred others from the sea.

The migrants were on board two boats right on the coast near the town of Garabulli, east of the capital Tripoli. When the coast guard reached the vessels, one had already sunk. Some of the passengers tried to reach the coast by swimming, others clung to floating parts of the decayed boat. Sixty people could be removed from the water. The coast guard also took the 140 crew members of the second, still floating boat on board.

Most migrants rescued at sea are brought to Italy. This year there were more than 115,000 already. At least 3,000 people drowned in 2017 or are registered as missing.