Lebanon tragedy: military asked to investigate why migrant boat capsized

Seven people, including a child, were killed and more were missing.

A relative carries the coffin of a woman who died when an inflatable boat sank off the Lebanese port of Tripoli, at her funeral in the city. Reuters

A man carries the body of a young girl who died when the boat sank, as a mourner fires in the air during the funeral procession. AP Photo

Waves were said to have submerged the overloaded boat shortly after it left the coastal town of Qalamoun. Reuters

The UN refugee agency UNHCR said the boat was carrying at least 84 people, many times its capacity. AP Photo

Women lament those drowned in the accident. According to the Lebanese Navy, 45 people were rescued and seven bodies found. EPA

Mourners at the funeral of one of the victims. Lebanese have sought to escape their country's financial woes by trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. EPA

Mourners at the funeral of one of the victims in Tripoli. Reuters

Lebanon’s government asked the military on Tuesday to investigate the deadly sinking of a migrant boat, following allegations by survivors that the navy was responsible for the accident.

It was still unclear what led the small, overloaded boat to sink off the coast of Tripoli on Saturday.

Seven people, including a child, were killed and more are missing.

The boat carried at least 60 passengers, many times over its capacity. Authorities said 47 were rescued.

The military was given the task of conducting “transparent investigations into the circumstances behind the incident” under the supervision of the judiciary, AP cited Information Minister Ziad Makari as saying following an emergency Cabinet session.

Survivors accused the Lebanese Navy of ramming the vessel while trying to force it back to shore.

Lebanese officials have blamed smugglers for overloading the boat and ignoring safety precautions.

President Michel Aoun said the incident must be investigated because of “conflicting accounts of events”.

Senior military officials, including army chief Joseph Aoun, navy commander Col Haitham Dnaoui, and head of military intelligence Brig Gen Tony Kahwaji were summoned to present the findings of their preliminary investigation.

The report has not been made public.

The Cabinet ordered the government’s Higher Relief Commission with providing assistance to the families of victims and survivors and appealed to the Social Affairs Ministry to communicate with international organisations to provide health and psychological help.