UN: Up to 500 migrants may have drowned

Up to 500 migrants may have drowned last week in the Mediterranean when human traffickers crammed people onto an already overcrowded ship, causing it to sink, the UN refugee agency said.

It could be one of the worst tragedies since the start of the migrant crisis in Europe.

Somalia’s government said on Monday about 200 or more Somalis may have died in the tragedy while trying to cross illegally to Europe. After talking to survivors, the UNHCR agency said the overall death toll might have been much higher.