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Over 90 immigrants missing after boat sank off Libyan shores

Xinhua, October 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Libyan coast guards said that over 90 immigrants are still missing after their rubber boat sank off the Libyan coast on Wednesday.

Libya's coast guards' spokesman said the boat was carrying 129 immigrants, 29 of who were rescued, while the rest are still missing or may have drowned.

Three women and a child are among the missing immigrants.

The spokesman said the rubber boat left from the coast of Garabulli, 50 km east of the capital Tripoli, and waves tore the boat, causing water to leak in until the boat eventually sank.

According to Doctors without Borders, 25 immigrants on Tuesday were found dead in the rubber boat off Libyan shores.

Due to regional instability, Libya is a preferred departure point for immigrants aiming to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, with many drowned on the way.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that 3,740 immigrants died in 2016 during their attempts to cross the Mediterranean.

"On the Central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy the likelihood of dying is even higher, at one death for every 47 arrivals," revealed the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Endit