Migrants Dead after their boat capsizes in the Mediterranean Sea

Hundreds of migrants, including children lost their lives after their rubber fishing boat carrying capsized off the coast of Libya. Reports indicate that there were around 600 migrants in the ill-fated boat, and it capsized when the people on board rushed to one side when the LE Niamh got close to it.

"Those that were on deck would have managed to jump, some of them drowned and some of them were saved," said Martin Xuereb of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station in Malta.

"It was a horrific sight, people desperately clinging to lifebelts, boats and anything they could to fight for their lives," (MSF) project co-ordinator said.

The rescued migrants were taken to Italy, where they will be taken through the normal entry procedures. Despite the risk of death, migrants interviewed by al Jazeera correspondent said that they would rather die trying to get to Europe than go back to their respective African counties.

Switzerland-based International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday that over 2,000 migrants have lost their lives this year trying in their quest to cross the dangerous sea to reach Europe.

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