ROME-A scow ferry boat with immigrants from Libya sank off the African coast causing death of at least 17 migrants while some 200 have been found alive, a naval spokesman said Tuesday. “Based on accounts from survivors, there were 130 people on board, and at the moment 42 are missing,” Col. Ayoub Kassem told the press. However other reports said there were as many as 400 people on board.

 According to Libyan authorities, the accident took place last Tuesday when the boat went under after the hull had given way due to overloading off Garabulli, at a 50km distance from Tripoli, and “various objects and pieces of luggage are still being found on the shore, (…) which indicates that the boat was packed with immigrants.”  

 Due to its vicinity to Malta and its porous shores, Libya remains one of the main transit countries for migrants who escape African countries and hope to reach the European coast.

 Libyan Minister of Interior Salah Mazek declared Monday that he would “facilitate” the influx of illegal immigrants to Europe if the EU does not take on the responsibility to help Tripoli resolve the problem. As of Tuesday, the Libyan government backed down from the statement emphasising their wish to continue the cooperation with Europe and Italy to stop clandestine immigration.

 Recently Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that “96 percent of the immigrants who arrive in Italy come from Libya,” and confirmed that he had asked the U.N. to take on the commitment “of a special delegate for Libya.”

 According to the latest estimates, since the beginning of the year more than 25.000 immigrants have reached the Italian coast, a dramatic increase from 2013.  

 Meanwhile Monday night 98 immigrants from Syria and several other countries landed at Ancona having travelled over 20 hours on board of a Greek ferry hidden inside two lorries. Drivers have already been arrested, while the passengers have been caught by the coast guard and Italian tax police.