TRIPOLI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Libyan coast guards on Thursday rescued 483 immigrants on a wooden boat almost broken down off the western coast of Libya, a Libya navy spokesman said.
Spokesman Ayob Qassem said the immigrants included 27 women and 8 children. Qassem also said the migrants are from Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ghana, and Bangladesh.
Three rubber boats were spotted by the naval patrol on Thursday where smugglers were boarding 40 migrants to send towards Europe, Qassem revealed. The immigrants were taken to an immigration receiving center in western Libya.
Due to the state of insecurity and chaos, Libya is a preferred point of departure for thousands of immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe, many of whom drown on the way.
