Horror as 900 drown after ship sinks crossing Mediterranean

In the worst maritime disaster since World War Two, almost a thousand people are believed to have perished when their boat travelling from Libya capsized in the sea.

300 migrants, who were on their way to Italy to seek a safer existence, are believed to have been trapped in the hold of the ship when it went down.

In the wake of the tragedy, and another just last week that saw almost 400 perish, the British government has been attacked for supporting the withdrawal of search and rescue operations in the area.

Due to the smaller scale rescue operation, only 24 bodies were recovered from the sea following this latest sinking.

Malta’s prime minister has called for Italy and Malta to have more support in dealing with the migrant issue - as thousands are leaving Libyan shores to come across the med.

‘A time will come when Europe will be judged harshly for its inaction as it was judged hen it had turned a blind eye to genocide.’

‘They are literally trying to find people alive among the dead floating in the water.’

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘It is immoral to turn our backs and leave people to drown in order to deter other desperate travellers - and of course it hasn’t worked.’

‘The EU should do the basic, humanitarian thing and rescue those in peril on the sea.’