DHAKA: At least 12 migrants drowned and some 116 were rescued after their boat capsized near the Egyptian port of Alexandria.

The boat sank early on Friday. The survivors, mostly Palestinians and Syrians, were taken to a naval base.

The incident comes a week after at least 311 migrants died when their boat sank off an Italian island.

Only 155 people survived the disaster near Lampedusa - divers are still searching for bodies there.

Alexandria`s security chief, Amin Ezzeddin, told the BBC that the survivors of the latest incident included 40 Syrians, 72 Palestinians and four Egyptians.

They were initially taken to a naval base in the Alexandria district of Ras al-Tin and then to a police station.

Source: BBC
BDST: 2125 HRS, OCT 11, 2013
SR/RIS