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21.04.2015 Africa

Captain's error, overcrowding caused migrant ship disaster

By AFP
Rescued migrants arrive in Catania, Italy, on April 20, 2015.  By Alberto Pizzoli AFPRescued migrants arrive in Catania, Italy, on April 20, 2015. By Alberto Pizzoli (AFP)
21.04.2015 LISTEN

Catania (Italy) (AFP) - Italian authorities said Tuesday that the Mediterranean's deadliest migrant boat disaster had been caused by a combination of mistake by the captain and the ship being impossibly overcrowded.

Prosecutors in the Sicilian city of Catania said the boat had collided with a Portuguese container ship just before it capsized but absolved the crew of the merchant vessel of any responsibility for the tragedy.

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