(VOVworld) – The Italian Coast Guard and Naval Forces are investigating a maritime disaster in which 400 illegal North African migrants may have drowned when their vessel capsized off the Libyan coast on Sunday.

A Red Cross volunteer carries a baby wrapped in a blanket after migrants disembarked at the Sicilian Porto Empedocle harbour on Monday (Photo: AP)

The Save the Children organization said as many as 400 people may have drowned in the shipwreck after leaving Libya to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.
The investigation of the incident continues. If reports are confirmed, it will be the worst disaster yet for illegal immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East heading to Europe to seek job opportunities.