Rome — At least 30 migrants including young children drowned on Wednesday when they fell off an overloaded vessel in the Mediterranean, where tension is rising between aid ships and the Libyan coast guard. "There’s a critical situation today. About 200 people fell into the water," a coastguard spokesperson said, while a humanitarian worker at the scene said 31 bodies had been recovered. The migrants were on a wooden boat carrying between 500 and 700 people, and were just 20 nautical miles off the Libyan coast, when the accident happened. The crew of the Phoenix aid boat, chartered by the Maltese nongovernmental organisation Moas, had begun the rescue and were distributing lifejackets when many of those on deck fell into the water, perhaps knocked off balance by a wave. "Not a scene from a horror movie … real life tragedy unfolding on Europe’s doorstep today," said Chris Catrambone, Moas co-founder, who was aboard the Phoenix and published photos showing white body bags lined up on t...
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