Rome, May 24 (IANS/AKI) At least 20 migrants including young children perished when an overladen wooden boat capsized off the Libyan coast on Wednesday, Italian coastguard sources said.
Around 200 people were thrown into the water when the boat overturned and sank, possibly after being swamped by a wave, the sources said.
At least 500 people were aboard the boat, according to the sources.
An Italian coastguard vessel, navy helicopters and a boat from the Maltese charity MOAS were rescuing migrants and recovering bodies from the scene of the shipwreck, while other ships were due to join the operation, said the sources.
MOAS co-founder Chris Catrambone tweeted from the charity's Phoenix rescue vessel that the death-toll from the shipwreck was 31, calling it "a big tragedy".
Catrambone published photos showing white body bags lined up on the rescue ship's deck.
--IANS/AKI
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