Here are photos showing heart-wrenching moments a boat overloaded with migrants capsizing off the coast of Libya.
5 people was confirmed to have drown, while hundreds of others were lucky to have been saved, as an Italian patrol boat threw life rackets and life jackets to them. A naval ship also sent in a helicopter and life boats to help in the rescue.
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The horrific sight was caught on camera as the Italian coast guard was approaching the overloaded with migrants trying to reach the shores of Europe and possibly integrate into the system illegally. As a result of panicking by persons on board, surging to a left hand side of the boat thus creating an unnecessary and unbalanced load by that end and resulting ultimately in its capsize.
Prior to the rescue of persons on board, it is reported that five persons were already dead as a result of the commotion. However, about 562 were reportedly aboard the boat, and three persons reported dead.
This is actually not the first time illegal migrants are being rescued off the Mediterranean Sea, as migrants, mostly from war torn countries like Syria, Somalia and Eritrea have sought refuge in Europe through Mediterranean Sea.
About 6000 persons have been rescued thus far this year from similar boat mishaps on the Mediterranean Sea. Reports have shown that the boats employed in these voyage are mostly rickety fishing boats whose vitality and suitability for embarking on such expedition is highly questionable.
Despite the inherent risk, migrants have been adamant in escaping the hardship at the home country through this costly journey, especially with the closure of the Turkey/Greece border. Italy, Spain and Bulgaria have been the route into Europe for the migrants.
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