Friday, March 29

At least 87 dead in a shipwreck off the coast of Syria


The balance of migrants who have drowned in front of the Syrian shores in the wreck of his boat from Lebanon amounts to 87 people, as reported by the official Syrian news agency. The figure exceeds the previous balance of 73 deceased migrants who tried to reach Europe clandestinely.

The event is added to the one that occurred at the beginning of September when the loss of a ship with dozens of Lebanese and Syrians off the European coast was reported.

Arrested its responsible

The Lebanese Army has already arrested the alleged smuggler responsible for organizing the barge route to Europe. In a statement it is explained that the intelligence services arrested the accused, identified with the acronym BD, on the 21st.

After carrying out the pertinent investigations, the authorities determined that the detainee “is involved in managing an immigrant trafficking network through the Lebanese coast,” according to the note.

Likewise, the defendant “admitted that he was responsible for organizing the trafficking operation to Italy of a barge that capsized off the Syrian coast on September 21.”

The Army indicated that the investigation of the events, which have shocked Lebanon, as well as the persecution of the trafficker network, continues.

Escape to Europe

According to the Syrian authorities, some 150 people, mainly Lebanese and Syrian and Palestinian refugeess, were aboard the small boat that sank off the port city of Tartus in western Syria on Thursday.

“The number of people killed in the shipwreck has risen to 87,” Samer Kbrasli, director general of the Syrian ports, told the Sanaa news agency, explaining that 20 migrants had been rescued.

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Among the castaways there were ten childrenthe United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Saturday.

It is about the deadliest shipwreck of recent years in Syria, a country devastated by more than eleven years of conflict.

The European Union mourns the shipwreck

The European Union (EU) has been shown “deeply saddened” due to the “tragic” shipwreck of a barge off the coast of Syria in which, so far, 87 people have died, mostly Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians, as reported by the European External Action Service in a statement.

“This new tragedy at sea is the worst recent sinking of a ship involving migrants who left the region,” said the spokesman for the European diplomatic corps.

The EU remains committed to helping Lebanon, Syria and Palestine “overcome the crises they face while assisting refugees in the region and combating migrant smuggling”.

Related news

The boat had left the Lebanese town of Tripoli a few days ago with some 150 people on board who intended to reach Italy, Cyprus or other European countries and sank on Thursday off the coast of Tarús, in Syria.

Authorities are still searching for around 50 other people still missing, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.


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