BEIRUT

The number of people who lost their lives as a result of the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Syria has risen to 71, Lebanon’s transport minister said on Friday.

Ali Hamie said that 20 people have been rescued alive and that efforts continue to find the missing people.

Earlier, Hamie had put the death toll at 53.

On Thursday, Syrian regime authorities said that the boat that set off from Lebanon sank off the coast of Tartus.

Attempts by Lebanese and Syrians to migrate from Lebanon to European countries through illegal means have been increasing in light of an unprecedented deterioration of economic and social conditions and an increase in poverty rates.

Lebanon has been grappling with a severe economic crisis since late 2019, including massive currency depreciation and fuel and medical shortages.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi and Mahmoud Barakat contributed to this report