Rescuers brought more bodies to shore on Thursday a day after a boat crowded with migrants capsized off the coast of Egypt, drowning at least 55 people, as Egyptian authorities arrested four people in connection with the deaths.
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“I just wanted to reach Europe and live a decent life”, said Ahmed Gamal, 17.
The prosecution also ordered the release of 160 rescued survivors of the capsized boat, including 117 Egyptians and 43 foreigners.
Experts say people-smugglers in Egypt mostly use old fishing vessels, packed far beyond capacity both below and above deck. It was not immediately possible to verify the differing accounts, but the survivor’s comments suggest fewer people might be missing than initially thought.
Di Giacomo said those aboard the boat were mainly East African and Egyptian, including many unaccompanied youths whose ranks have increased this year because of economic need and provisions in Italian law that grant them temporary papers and bar their involuntary deportation. Rescued migrants have been questioned and freed. Although the final destination of the boat remains unclear, officials believe it was heading to Italy.
22 de septiembre de 2016, 11:53Cairo, Sep 22 (Prensa Latina) Egyptian authorities today arrested four suspects involved in an illegal immigration attempt via the Egypt Sea which ended in tragedy yesterday. However, the final death toll will require first obtaining a reliable figure for how many people were on board the boat, and more bodies could yet be recovered at sea or along the coast. “Those. that knew how to swim moved away (from the boat), leaving behind women and small children”, he said, describing what happened after the boat capsized.
Some 1.3 million migrants reached Europe a year ago fleeing war and economic hardship, prompting bitter disputes among European countries on how to share the responsibility.
If they survive the perilous maritime journey, migrants this year face much tougher European Union border controls.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi told the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week that countering illegal migration is a top priority for the Egyptian government.
The Egyptian military said the boat was 12 nautical miles off the coast near the town of Rosetta when it capsized on Wednesday. He promised to bring to justice those involved in human trafficking.
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“I want to flee”. Everything is destroyed in Egypt.
