Hope grows slim for recovering bodies from migrant ship wreck

  • 11 years ago
As divers search the remains of this wrecked vessel, the hope for finding more bodies grows grim.

So far nearly 200 bodies have been recovered from the boat, which was carrying around 500 African migrants.

One diver involved in the search says the outlook is not optimistic.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DIVER FOR GUARDIA DI FINANZA, SERGEANT RICCARDO NOBILE, SAYING:

"The more we move forward, the numbers will reduce as it will be increasingly difficult to recover these bodies. We have to check where all of the remaining bodies are and the sea's current will play a part. It will be impossible to recover everyone."

The vessel sank off the coast of the Italian island Lampedusa last week.

Only 155 survivors were rescued.

Lampedusa is known as one of the main entry points for migrants coming from Africa.

Tens of thousands have arrived in recent years traveling in unsafe and overcrowded boats.

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