The Syrian Ministry of Health announced on Friday that the death toll from the sinking boat carrying illegal immigrants off the Syrian coast had risen to 73, the highest number since the start of the illegal immigration from the crisis-ridden Lebanon.
In a statement, Health Minister Hassan al-Ghobash stated that "in an inconclusive toll, the number of victims of the sinking boat has reached 73, while 20 people are receiving treatment at the al-Bassel Hospital (in Tartous).