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At least 18 migrants lost their lives in a shipwreck off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya over the weekend, with 50 others still unaccounted for, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday, citing available reports.
According to the IOM, ten survivors have been found so far.
Tobruk is a coastal city situated near Libya’s eastern border with Egypt. A diplomatic source at the Egyptian consulate in Benghazi told Reuters by phone that the migrants involved were Egyptian nationals.
The diplomat stated that ten of the recovered bodies had been identified and repatriated, while the survivors are currently being held at an anti-illegal migration facility.
A Libyan Coast Guard official reported that the bodies were discovered on Alaghila Beach, located approximately 25 kilometres east of Tobruk.
Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, Libya has become a key transit route for migrants escaping conflict and poverty, attempting to reach Europe across the desert and the Mediterranean Sea.
“This latest tragedy is a stark reminder of the deadly risks people are forced to take in search of safety and opportunity. Libya remains a major transit point for migrants and refugees, many of whom face exploitation, abuse, and life-threatening journeys,” the IOM said.
