lar migration boat six miles off the coast of Arida, Akkar in September, 2022. (Credit: Lebanese Army via Twitter)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army intercepted a boat attempting an irregular sea crossing off the coast of Batroun on Friday evening, L'Orient Today's correspondent in North Lebanon reported.
The boat was reportedly bound for Italy, carrying 31 people of Syrian descent.
The vessel departed from al-Herri shore in Chekka in the north Friday evening, and broke down a few kilometers off Selaata shore, where the army towed it into the port. The army then disembarked the passengers, including men, women and children, according to our correspondent.
All of the passengers were arrested by a patrol of the Army Intelligence Office in Batroun and referred to the competent authorities for investigation, with the exception of the boat driver, who reportedly fled at sea.
An emergency team from the Lebanese Red Cross in Batroun also arrived at the scene to respond to any injuries, but the detainees were all in a good health.
In September, an attempted irregular boat journey ended in the deaths of more than 100 people. The tragedy was the latest in a series of irregular sea migration attempts by people hoping to leave behind Lebanon’s economic woes.
Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak.