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1st LD Writethru: At least 40 illegal immigrants dead off Libyan coast

Xinhua, August 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 40 illegal immigrants died and 319 were saved on Saturday off the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean sea, Italian media reported.

According to Italian TV Rai24 news, the Italian coast guard found and rescued an overcrowded fishing ship, founding at least 40 illegal migrants died of suffocation.

Massimo Tozzi, commander of the Marine unit "Cigala Fulgosi", told Rai24 that the victims may died of inhalation the exhaust gas on the boat, and usually during this kind of voyage only those people who pay more can stay on the bridge of the boat to be away from exhaust gas.

Tozzi said, when the rescue team entered the boat they found bodies immersed in water, excrement and fuel.

According to Rai 24, Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano called on the international community that Saturday's new tragedy will not be the last one if the problems in Libya are not solved.

Four years after the civil war which toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya descended into anarchy leaving a power vacuum in most of its territories, encouraging migrants to venture by sea via the North African country.

It has long been a transit point for migrants seeking to reach Malta, Italy, and other European countries due to its proximity and lackadaisical border control.

According to the International Organization for Migration, an estimated 150,000 migrants have reached Europe by sea by mid July in 2015, many of them departed from Libya. Endit