Three Bangladeshis fleeing Libya drown off Greek island of Crete

Three Bangladeshis fleeing Libya drown off Greek island of Crete

2011-03-06 22:39:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

CRETE, GREECE (BNO NEWS) -- At least three Bangladeshi evacuees from conflict-ridden Libya drowned on Sunday after jumping from a Greek ferry as it was docking at Souda in the southern Greek island of Crete, officials said.

Coast guard officials said that a total 46 evacuees used a rope to descend from the passenger ship "Ionion King" with 1,288 evacuees, which had already moored, because they feared that they would be sent back to their home country if their papers were checked by Greek authorities, the Kathimerini newspaper reported.

The officials added that 16 people were reported missing, while 22 people are receiving hospital treatment. The victims were from Bangladesh.

Greece has been very active in helping people leave Libya over the last couple of weeks, including more than 10,000 Chinese workers. It is thought that Greek ferry companies will earn about 20 million euros from their participation in the evacuation operation, according to the newspaper.

Libya has been plunged into chaos as massive anti-government protests continue nationwide, resulting in a violent crackdown by security forces which included aerial bombardments on protesters. Up to 2,000 people are believed to have been killed in the uprising, but confirmed information has been difficult to obtain due to reporting restrictions by Libyan authorities.

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