Migrant children drown en route to Europe

31 dead after exceeding the boat's occupancy

About 200 migrants seeking asylum in Europe were sent into the Mediterranean waters, off the coast of Libya, after the over-packed boat listed on rough seas. NBC reports that of the 31 people who did not survive, many were children:

Italian Coast Guard commander Cosimo Nicastro told Reuters,”At least 20 dead bodies were spotted in the water.” Rescue group Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) said it had recovered 31 bodies. “Most are toddlers,” the group’s co-founder Chris Catrambone said on Twitter.

NBC goes on to report rescuers work as quickly as they can in these situations and have saved 50,000 people from a similar fate in 2017 alone. Unfortunately, despite their efforts 2017 has also seen 1,300 migrants drown on this desperate route from North Africa to Europe.