More bodies of African migrants continue to be washed ashore in the Libyan city of Zawiya, in the latest drowning tragedy as they were trying to cross the Mediterranean to Italy.
A torn rubber boat was found nearby, and it is feared more bodies may surface as such vessels usually carry up to 120 people. Some of those who died are believed to be children. A spokesman for the Libyan Red Crescent - the country's Red Cross - said the bodies were retrieved by its workers.
The UN's migration agency, the International Organisation for Migration, said the boat that sank had left Libya on Saturday with 110 people on board. At least 5,000 people drowned last year while trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.
Mr. Gassim said the smugglers were now using larger rubber boats in order to pack more migrants in, some carrying up to 180 people. The boats are weak, and loading them so heavily dramatically raises the risk of sinking.
"We are seeing the new boats, which are not equipped with anything, but they carry more people," he said. "This is going to be even more disastrous to the migrants."
Source: www.bbc.com
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