The Syrian authorities reported an increase in the number of victims of the Lebanese boat that sank off the coast of Tartous Governorate to 86 dead.

In statements to the Syrian Arab News Agency "SANA", the Director General of Maritime Ports, Samer Qaborsli, announced "the increase in the number of victims of the Lebanese boat that sank off the coast of Tartous Governorate to 86 people".

The Director of the Public Authority of Al-Basel Hospital, Iskandar Ammar, explained that "the procedures for delivering the bodies to the relatives of the victims continue after the families have identified them".

It is worth mentioning that the Syrian authorities announced last Thursday the sinking of a Lebanese boat that was carrying a number of immigrants of different nationalities, especially Syrians and Lebanese, off Tartous.