Lebanon tells military to probe deadly migrant boat capsize

Lebanon’s authorities Tuesday tasked the armed forces with investigating how an overpacked migrant boat capsized, a tragedy a few survivors have blamed on the navy.

At least six people were killed past due Saturday within the Mediterranean Sea off the northern port city of Tripoli in the united states’ deadliest such maritime incident in years.

The instances had been now not completely clear, with a few onboard claiming the army rammed their boat, while officials have insisted the traffickers tried reckless escape manoeuvres.

The government in an emergency session “tasked army command with conducting a transparent investigation into the circumstances behind the incident under the supervision of the relevant judicial authority,” said Information Minister Ziad Makari.

The announcement came after survivors took to TV stations and social media to accuse the military of insulting passengers aboard the ship and then deliberately cracking its hull.

The disaster ignited widespread public anger just weeks before May 15 parliamentary elections in the small country hit by a severe economic crisis in recent years.

The Lebanese armed forces said 48 people were rescued, but it has remained unclear exactly how many would-be asylum seekers were crammed onto the boat when it set off.

The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said the boat was carrying at least 84 people when it capsized about three nautical miles (3.5 miles, 5.5 kilometres) off the coast — which would leave some 30 people unaccounted for.

Lebanon was once a transit point for asylum seekers from elsewhere in the Middle East who were hoping to reach the European Union island state of Cyprus, 175 kilometres (110 miles) away.

However, Lebanon’s unheard of economic crisis that has plunged tens of millions into poverty is using growing numbers of its citizens to also strive the perilous crossing.

The UN says more than 1,500 human beings have tried to go away from Lebanon illegally by using sea since the begin of 2021.