Eight people have drowned and seven are missing after a Turkish vessel sank off the Misratan coast in Libya.
According to Misrata’s 154 Brigade and local sources, eight sailors understood to be Turkish are believed to have drowned, while six others have been rescued.
The vessel transporting construction material reportedly sank approximately two to three miles off the north-western coast of Libya according to Reda Issa, a local coastguard.
Six cargo members have been rescued by Libyan coastguards and port staff who battled treacherous conditions to rescue the sailors.
Issa told Reuters: “We are still searching for seven of the Turkish ship’s crew members but unfortunately the bad weather is hindering the coast guards’ work.”