About 83 migrants missing after boat mishap in Mediterranean sea

83 migrants have been declared missing after their makeshift boat sank in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya, the country’s navy said late Tuesday.

The inflatable boat was carrying more than 100 people when it went down, according to Navy spokesman Ayoub Kacem, who said rescuers had saved just 17 people, including some women.

The boat sank off the city of Khoms, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the Libyan capital, Kacem said.

According to him, survivors clung to the vessel of the boat for hours before they were rescued.

In another incident, the Libyan navy said it had also rescued 267 migrants of various African nationalities, off Zawiya to the west of Tripoli.

Women and 17 children were among those rescued, said Kacem, who added that bad weather had hampered the operation.

Over the weekend, 10 migrants died and dozens of others, including children, went missing off the Libyan coast, according to aid organisations.