More than 120 migrants missing as boat sinks off Libya

By Baris Seckin and Enes Kanli

ROME/TUNUSIA (AA) – At least 126 people are missing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the Libyan coast, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday.

Four migrants were rescued by Libyan fishermen, IOM spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo said on Twitter.

Survivors said boat sank after its motor was stolen by human traffickers, according to Giacomo.

Most of the refugees on the boat were Nigerian and Sudanese.

The UN Migration Agency said 44,209 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2017, through May 3. The vast majority have arrived in Italy, followed by arrivals in Greece, Cyprus and Spain.

At least 966 migrants or refugees have drowned or gone missing this year along the central Mediterranean route linking North Africa to Italy.