700 migrants feared dead while crossing Mediterranean 

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Around 700 people are feared dead after the boat they were travelling in capsized off Libya Coast while it was crossing the Mediterranean.

"28 people have survived this and there are still 700 people on board. At this moment we fear that this will be a huge loss of life, Carlotta Sami, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told SkyTG24 television.

Navy vessels were involved in the operation, an Italian official confirmed. Though he said the details were still being evaluated.

The accident occurred when a cargo ship came close to the boat which was carrying the illegal migrants. Sensing danger of being caught, the illegal migrants moved towards one side of the boat, which imbalanced the vessel, and led to the mishap.

The boat went down about 60 miles (96km) off the Libyan coast and 120 miles (193km) south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.