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Brilio.net/en - The night of April13th, 2016 wasn't one that the people of Africa will remember fondly. In the midst of a cold and dark night, about 500 Africans who had left their hometowns drowned in the Mediterranean Sea due to a shipwreck. The remaining 41 survivors found themselves stranded off the coast of Italy's Lampedusa Island before being fortunately rescued by Aquarius, one of SOS Mediterraneans merchant ships. They were finally dropped off in Kalamata, Greece on April 16, ending a series of unfortunate events that they encountered.
Image via The Associated Press
In recent times, many African nationals have been migrating to Europe in search of a new life, away from war and/or poverty. While hundreds of thousands of them make it by sea safe and sound, there have been cases of people who dont. In fact, this particular incident is perhaps the most fatal of them all.
28-year old survivor Mahmud Muaz, who lost his wife and baby in the middle of the sea, recounted this horrific experience. He said, when this boat was falling, we started swimming to save our life to the other boat. Some survivors on the other boat threw something to us (to help us). We were 10 people. With others still swimming towards them, the smuggler started the engine and abandoned them.
In times like these, we can never predict what destiny has in store.
(brl/red)
