11 migrants drown as boat capsizes off Egypt

Cairo

Eleven would-be migrants from Syria and Africa drowned when a boat bound for Europe capsized off the Egyptian port of Baltim, security and medical officials said Sunday.

The coastguard took into custody 15 survivors identified as Syrians, Egyptian and people of other African nationalities after the sinking of the trawler on Saturday night.

The International Migration Organisation said late last month that since January nearly 474,000 people had braved perilous trips across the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

It says that this year alone, 3,092 people have died while attempting the crossing, while more than half a million have made the voyage, mostly landing in Greece and Italy.