TRIPOLI/ATHENS: The bodies of at least 104 migrants have washed up on a beach in the western Libyan town of Zwara, the navy said on Friday, warning however that the toll could rise.
"The number of bodies retrieved Thursday evening was 104 but the toll is expected to rise since an average boat carries 115-125 passengers," said
Libyan navy spokesman Colonel Ayoub Qassem.
Earlier, a boat carrying hundreds of migrants has capsized off the Greek island of Crete and a major rescue operation is under way, the Greek coastguard said on Friday.
"The number of people in distress could be counted in the hundreds," a spokeswoman for the coastguard said. "People are in the water, boats crossing the area have thrown lifebuoys and are moving to save the migrants."
