Hundreds of Migrants Feared Dead as Boat Sinks off Libya

In this photo provided by the Swedish Coast Guard, a tug boat from the ship Poseidon reaches a rubber boat with 130 migrants off the Libyan coast Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. (Swedish Coast Guard via AP Photo)

Hundreds of people are feared dead as a boat packed with migrants sank off the Libyan coast on Thursday.

According to reports, the sinking occurred off the coastal city of Zuwara, The Daily Star Lebanon informs.

The rescue operations are ongoing, with around hundred of the illegal migrants having survived.

The migrants on board were from sub-Saharan Africa, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco and Bangladesh.

The Italian coastguard was not in the position to confirm the sinking immediately.

Zuwara, which is near the border with Tunisia is a major starting point for smugglers shipping migrants to Italy.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!