Boat sinking off Syria kills 71

The bodies of migrants who drowned at sea are loaded onto a boat in the port of Tartous, Syria, on September 22.

© AFP

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At least 71 migrants drowned off Syria after a boat sank from Lebanon, Lebanese Transport Minister Ali Hamie said on Friday (September 23).

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More than 100 people, mainly Lebanese and Syrians, were on board the small boat that sank on Thursday (September 22) off the port city of Tartous in northwestern Syria.

Syrian authorities said 120 to 150 people were on board the boat before the sinking.

“ 

 ,” Hamie told AFP, adding that rescue efforts are still ongoing.

This is the highest death toll from the aftermath of a shipwreck of migrants from Lebanon, which is increasingly becoming a departure point for illegal migrant boats.

In April, the

, chased by the Lebanese navy off Tripoli, in the north of the country, left dozens dead and provoked great anger in the country in crisis.

The circumstances of the incident were unclear, with some on board accusing the Lebanese army of ramming their ship, while officials insisted the smugglers were irresponsible.

On September 13, the Turkish Coast Guard announced the death of six migrants, including two babies, and rescued 73 people who were trying to reach Europe, off the province of Mugla, in southwestern Turkey.

According to the UN, at least 38 boats carrying more than 1,500 people have illegally left or attempted to leave Lebanon by sea since 2020.

(

AFP)

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• Syria

• Lebanon

• International Migrations