Death toll of capsized boat off Syrian coast mounts to 86
TARTUS, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, death toll of the boat carrying migrants from Lebanon that sank in Syrian waters, reached 86 two days after ongoing search and retrieve of the bodies.
Samer Qabrousli, Director General of the Syrian Ports, told state-run SANA News Agency the number of victims of the boat sank off Tartus coast has reached 86.
On September 22, at least 34 individuals were drowned and 20 others survived when a boat of migrants sank off the Syrian coast.
On Friday, Hassan al-Ghabbash, Minister of Health said that 20 migrants were rescued, including eight were in intensive care unit, and they are currently receiving treatment in Tartus hospitals.
According to survivors, who were on the boat, the boat sailed on September 20 from the village of Miniyeh in northern Lebanon, with about 150 people on it, including Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians.
On Friday, the Ali Hamieh, Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport, said that 20 people survived, including 12 Syrians, five Lebanese and three Palestinians.
Hamieh added that the boat was “very small”, about 15 meters long, 4-5 meters wide, and there are still missing people and the numbers are unknown.
The Lebanese army indicated in a statement that eight people had been arrested in connection with maritime trafficking, they were all Lebanese.