Italian navy: migrant ship sinks with scores dead and hundreds rescued

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.com/en/italian-navy-migrant-ship-sinks-with-scores-dead-and-hundreds-rescued/a-18650952

The Italian navy says rescue operations are underway after a ship carrying migrants sank off Libya. It is the latest in a series of tragedies as refugees flee conflict zones in North Africa and the Middle East.

Italian navy: migrant ship sinks with scores dead and hundreds rescued
15.08.2015

The Italian navy said Saturday that its Comandanti-class warship the Cigala Fulgosi intercepted the vessel carrying more than 300 people. It was overloaded and starting so sink off the Libyan coast, the Italian navy said.

"Operation underway... many migrants saved. At least 40 dead," the navy said on Twitter, while the "Corriere della Sera" newspaper reported that the dead were found in the hold of the vessel.

Cmdr. Massimo Tozzi, speaking from the ship, said when his men boarded the distressed vessel they found the dead in the hold "immersed in water, fuel and human excrement."

Asked by RaiNews24 how the migrants died, Tozzi said "it appears to be from inhaling exhaust fumes."