At least 90 people are feared dead on Friday after a smuggler’s boat carrying mostly Pakistani migrants capsized in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Libya.
A majority of the migrants on board the boat were Pakistanis, who form a growing group making the dangerous crossing to Europe, the UN migration agency said.
Ten bodies have washed ashore near the Libyan town of Zuwara following the tragedy early Friday morning, the International Organization for Migration said.
Dangerous journey: At least 90 people died after a smuggler’s boat capsized in the Mediterranean on Friday. Pictured are more than 320 migrants and refugees who had to be rescued trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya
Eight were believed to be Pakistani, and two Libyans.
IOM spokeswoman Olivia Headon said initial indications were that the boat had become unbalanced.
She said Pakistani nationals have been taking an increasing share among the number of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy and Europe via Libya.
The incident took place one day after the European Union’s border agency Frontex launched a new Mediterranean operation called Themis, removing the obligation of the previous mission to bring rescued migrants only to Italy.
Italy has repeatedly lamented a lack of EU solidarity in managing immigration. The previous Frontex operation, called Triton, required all those rescued at sea to be brought to Italy even if another EU country, such as Malta, was closer.
Some of the 240 illegal migrants from Arab and African countries rescued off the coast of Zuwara west of the Libyan capital, arrived at a naval base on Wednesday
‘Triton said that whomever rescued would be taken to Italy,’ said Izabella Cooper, a spokeswoman for Frontex.
‘Themis leaves the decision on disembarkation to the (country) coordinating a particular rescue.’
Since Italy coordinates the vast majority of sea rescues between North Africa and its southern coast, the new rule is unlikely have a large impact on arrivals, though it does send a political message to Mediterranean neighbours like Malta.
Last year, as many as 3,100 migrants drowned as they attempted to make their way from Africa to Europe via boat.
And so far this year, more than 190 are believed to have died trying to cross the Mediterranean.
Some are seeking refuge from armed conflicts, while many others, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa, are economic migrants likely to be found ineligible for asylum in Europe.