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Boat capsizes off Egypt coast, 12 migrants killed, 116 rescued

11 October 2013 18:32 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Egypt's coast guards found 12 bodies of illegal migrants and rescued 116 others after the latter's boat capsized off the coast near northern Alexandria governorate, state- run Ahram website reported Friday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The boat is believed to have about 150 illegal migrants with different Arab nationalities onboard, the report said, adding the rescued migrants include 40 Syrians, 72 Palestinians and four Egyptians.

The rescued were sent to Ras el-Tin military base in Alexandria. State-run MENA news agency quoted security source as saying that coast guards are still searching for other possible survivors and bodies.

Since the beginning of Egypt's political crisis following the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi on July 3, a number of refugees, especially Syrians and Palestinians, have been attempting to flee Egypt to European countries.