'They died like rats in cages': Horror of migrants' final moments as it emerges 300 were locked in Europe-bound ship's hold as it capsized – leaving up to 900 dead
- Over 900 feared dead after boat overturned Libya in one of the worst maritime disasters since end of World War Two
- Bangladeshi survivor said the migrants became prisoners in the hold because traffickers had closed the portholes
- Bodies of 24 victims have been dropped off in Malta for burial while just 28 survivors are heading to a port in Sicily
- Rescuer tells of horror of finding dead ten-year-old boy, saying: 'I held him in my arms as if he were my own son'
- Politicians and charities attacked EU states for supporting Italy's decision to stop search and rescue operations
There were warnings of a 'genocide' in the Mediterranean today after nearly 1,000 migrants were feared dead in three separate boat disasters in just 24 hours.
More than 900 mainly African migrants are thought to have died when a fishing boat capsized off Libya yesterday in one of the worst maritime tragedies since the Second World War.
Survivors claimed up to 300 people including women and children 'drowned like rats in cages' after being locked in the hold by callous traffickers.
This morning, at least three migrants were killed when a vessel that left Turkey ran aground on the Greek holiday island of Rhodes, while a further 100 migrants were rescued from a third vessel late last night.
After the tragedies, Malta's Prime Minister today called for the EU to resume rescue operations and address the chaos in Libya which allows smugglers to operate out of the north African state with impunity.
Lawlessness in Libya, where two rival governments are fighting for control, has made it almost impossible to police the criminal gangs who can charge thousands of dollars to bring mainly sub-Saharan Africans to Europe.
This has been compounded in recent months by the rise of the Islamic State which has forced tens of thousands of others to flee after the terror group declared their presence in Libya earlier this year.
Mr Muscat said: 'We have what is fast becoming a failed state on our doorsteps and criminal gangs are enjoying a heyday.'
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Harrowing: Video footage shows a large, wooden double-masted boat with people packed on board, just meters away from the Greek island of Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. At least people are thought to have died in one of three migrant boat disasters in just 24 hours
Rescue: The vessel capsized after hitting rocks off the coast, causing dozens of desperate migrants to fall in to the choppy waters
Three bodies have already been recovered from the water and a further 80 people have been rescued so far, a Greek coast guard official said
He said the United Nations should mandate a force to intervene directly in Libya to disrupt or attack people-traffickers and stop the boats from setting off.
'A time will come when Europe will be judged harshly for its inaction as it was judged when it had turned a blind eye to genocide', he added.
'I believe that the (European) focus should be what should be done in Libya to stop the boats,' said Muscat, who is in Rome on Monday to meet with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
'Unless something is done about Libya, these scenes will be repeating themselves.'
David Cameron called it 'a very dark day for Europe', adding: 'We should put the blame squarely with the criminal human traffickers who are the ones managing, promoting and selling this trade, this trade in human life. We are doing everything we can to try and stop them.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
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