700 migrants feared dead in deadliest Mediterranean ship capsize

700 migrants are feared dead after their packed 20-meter fishing boat capsized off Libya today April 19th. Reports say the migrants, whose boat was 70 miles (126 km) off the Libyan coast and 110 miles (177 km) south of the Italian island of Lampedusa, issued a distress call to Italy's coastguard who immediately instructed a nearby merchant ship to go to its aid and it was when the merchant ship arrived at the scene that the fishing boat capsized, most likely as the migrants tried to get its attention, stampeding to one side of the boat.

UNHCR spokeswoman Carlotta Sami said today's shipwreck appears to be the worst in the Mediterranean

"It seems we are looking at the worst massacre ever seen in the Mediterranean,".

Meanwhile 28 people survived the incident while 24 bodies have been recovered from the water. 17 Coastal boats are currently combing the Mediterranean to see if there are still possible survivors.