Key facts
- At least 15 migrant bodies, including a child, washed ashore in eastern Libya.
- The migrants were believed to be traveling on a boat that capsized.
- The vessel was reportedly carrying approximately 61 people.
The bodies of at least 15 migrants, including a child, have washed ashore along Libya's eastern coast over the past week after their boat is believed to have capsized. Survivors reported the vessel was carrying around 61 people.
The incident highlights the ongoing perilous journeys undertaken by migrants attempting to reach Europe via Libya, underscoring the humanitarian crisis at sea and the risks associated with human trafficking routes.
The bodies of at least 15 migrants, including a child, have washed ashore along Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast over the past week, with authorities believing their boat capsized. Security, navy, and medical sources told Reuters on Saturday that the vessel was carrying approximately 61 people, according to 10 survivors.
The remains were recovered from several locations along the coastline of Tobruk, a city near the Egyptian border. Security officials noted the bodies were badly decomposed and warned that more could still be found. Images shared by the Tobruk Red Crescent showed volunteers recovering bodies from rocky shorelines.
Libya has served as a primary transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe since the 2011 uprising, fleeing conflict and poverty. The country's economy also attracts impoverished migrants seeking work.
In a separate incident, medics treated 13 migrants after their boat capsized off the coast of Khums city.