Dozens of refugees feared drowned off Libya

At least 35 refugees, including seven children, were feared drowned after their inflatable boat sank on Saturday off the Libyan coast.

Eighty-five refugees, including 18 women, were rescued after clinging to the boat with the help of fishermen who alerted the Libyan coastguard, said Issa al-Zarrouk, a coastguard official in Garabulli, 60 kilometres east of Tripoli.

Navy spokesman Ayoub Kacem said the boat sank 11km northwest of Garabulli, and 10 fishing boats took part in the rescue.

They were among 100 refugees on board when their rubber boat developed a malfunction off eastern Tripoli, he added.
 
Qasim said the rescued refugees were from Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast.
 
The official did not disclose the nationalities of those who were missing.

SOURCE: ALJAZEERA