One dead, more than 40 rescued after boat sinks in Lebanon's Tripoli port-UPDATED

One dead, more than 40 rescued after boat sinks in Lebanon
# 24 April 2022 01:54 (UTC +04:00)

One child has died but more than 40 people have been rescued following the sinking of a boat off the coast of Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli on Saturday, said Ali Hamie,Transport Minister, APA reports citing Reuters.

The Lebanese Red Cross said in a tweet that there were about 60 people on board and said it had dispatched more than a dozen ambulances to the scene.

"We are still looking for the remainder of those who were on the boat, which included both Lebanese and Syrians," Hamie said.

An agitated crowd had begun to gather around the port by midnight, a Reuters witness reported, and ambulances could be seen ferrying people away from the coast towards the city.

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The boat with 60 people on board sank in northern Lebanon, near the city of Tripolithe, said Lebanese Red Cross, APA reports citing RIA Novosti.

The organization did not specify the fate of the people, but noted that seven ambulances arrived at the port at the scene.

According to RIA Novosti, citing a source in the security agencies, the Lebanese army was able to get to the sunken ship and began an operation to rescue passengers. Most of them have Syrian citizenship.

The Lebanese Prime Minister’s office said the boat illegally left Qalamoun post near Tripol.

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THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED