Over 100 Dead In New Migrantion Tragedy, Second Wreck Feared

At least 110 people are feared to have drowned off Libya when a migrant boat capsized, and more may have died in another stricken vessel, the UN's refugee agency said Thursday, citing survivor
testimony.

"A vessel with around 140 people on board overturned Wednesday just a few hours after setting off from Libya, throwing everyone into the water. Only 29 people survived," UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Sami told AFP.

The Norwegian vessel Siem Pilot was first on the scene, some 20 nautical miles off Libya, and rescued the survivors -- all of whom were in poor condition after spending hours in the water -- and recovered 12 bodies.

Those pulled to safety were transferred to the island of Lampedusa by the Italian coast guard.

In what could be a second incident, which could not be immediately confirmed by the coast guard, two women told the UN agency they believed they were the only survivors in an disaster in which some 125 people drowned.

"They told us they were on a faulty dinghy which began to sank as soon as they set sail. They were the only survivors," Sami said.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) quoted the same survivors but put the total death toll at around 240 people.

"Not enough has been done so far to avoid these tragedies," said Flavio di Giacomo, IOM spokesman in Italy.