At least 9 dead after ship sinks off Lebanon
Panama-flagged ship capsizes off port of Tripoli, carrying more than crew members. Lebanese security official says at least 20 sailors rescued so far
A cargo ship carrying more than 80 people and livestock sank in the Mediterranean off Lebanon, killing at least nine people and leaving dozens missing, Lebanese naval and security sources said on Friday.
The Panama-flagged ship Danny Two overturned some 11 nautical miles off the port of Tripoli at around 19:30 (17:30 GMT), the officials said.
Nine Lebanese navy rescue boats, including a medical team, rushed to the reported scene of the disaster along with three vessels from the United Nations force stationed off Lebanon (UNIFIL).
"Three maritime task force ships, one Italian and two German, were dispatched about 10 nautical miles off the coast of Tripoli after the Lebanese navy received a distress call from a Panamanian-flagged ship," said Unifil spokesperson Andrea Tenenti.
An official of the Lebanese security services said at least 20 sailors were rescued, including 16 by a Syrian ship.
According to the head of port services, many crew members were from the Philippines and Pakistan. At least one Lebanese and a Syrian were also on board
Both Tenenti and a port official in Tripoli had said the ship was transporting livestock. However, there was confusion as to where the ship had sailed from and its final destination.
The accident came as severe thunderstorms lashed Lebanon.
Reuters, AP and AFP contributed to the report
