World

Bodies of 50 migrants found in boat of Libya's coast

Handout photo issued by Irish Defence Forces in June this year of the operation by members of the Irish Navy vessel LE Eithne as they rescue refugees in the ongoing humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean. Today, 50 bodies from a boat were found off the coast of Libya
Handout photo issued by Irish Defence Forces in June this year of the operation by members of the Irish Navy vessel LE Eithne as they rescue refugees in the ongoing humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean. Today, 50 bodies from a boat were found off the Handout photo issued by Irish Defence Forces in June this year of the operation by members of the Irish Navy vessel LE Eithne as they rescue refugees in the ongoing humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean. Today, 50 bodies from a boat were found off the coast of Libya

Around 50 bodies have been found in the hull of a migrant boat rescued off Libya's northern coast.

The bodies add to the more than 2,400 people who have died at sea this year making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Europe.

Italy's coast guard said the Swedish ship Poseiden, which is taking part in the EU's Triton Mediterranean operation, rescued 439 people from the ship on Wednesday.

The rescue was one of 10 requests for assistance that arrived at the coastguard's operations centre as Libya-based smugglers take advantage of calm seas to send boats overloaded with migrants to Europe.

The toll was similar to the estimated 40 migrants who died, apparently from fuel fumes, on August 15.

Migrants by the tens of thousands are braving the perilous journey across the Mediterranean this year, hoping to reach Europe and be granted asylum. They are fleeing war, persecution and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.