The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Amid ongoing searching operations | The number of people died after the sinking of migrant boat near Syrian coastline jumps to 62

Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that the number of people who died after the boat carrying them to Italy having sunk near the Syrian coast has risen to 62. The victims are of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian nationalities.

 

Meanwhile, rescue teams have been still searching for missing people whose number is estimated to be at least 70, as some survivors have confirmed that the number of migrants onboard the boat when it set off from Lebanon was 150. SOHR sources have confirmed that many of the Syrian migrants who died in this incident had sold their properties in Syria in order to reach Europe, after they have suffered dreadful living conditions in Lebanon.

 

It is worth noting that a regime helicopter with searchlight started searching for missing people, nearly six hours after reporting about the first victim yesterday.

 

Yesterday, SOHR sources reported that rescue teams, with the help of Syrian fishermen, pulled out 20 Syrian and Lebanese survivals and transported them to hospitals in Tartous city, some of whom were in critical health conditions, as they were resisting death for hours after the sinking of the boat in the Mediterranean sea. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the Russians did not participate in searching operations which were ongoing near their bases in Tartous.

 

According to reliable SOHR sources, the boat set off on Tuesday morning, September 20, from Al-Miniyeh port in the Lebanese city of Tripoli heading to Cyprus. The boat carried 120 to 150 migrants of Lebanese, Syrian and other nationalities. However, the boat sank off the Syrian island of Arwad. Syrian fishermen take part in rescue operations and they managed to pull out most of the bodies and survivals before the arrival of regime-affiliated rescue teams.