The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced Saturday that at least 61 migrants were missing and feared dead after their boat sank off the coast of Libya, the latest such catastrophe off North Africa.
The migrants are thought to have perished as a result of strong waves that overwhelmed their sailboat after it departed Zuwara on Libya’s northwest coast, according to the IOM’s Libya office in a statement to AFP.
According to witnesses, there were roughly 86 migrants onboard from Nigeria, The Gambia, and other African nations, including women and children.
According to the IOM, 25 detainees were rescued and taken to a Libyan prison centre.
It stated that the survivors were all in good health and had received medical attention from IOM personnel.
Libya and Tunisia are major departure places for migrants attempting to enter Europe via Italy via risky sea trips.
According to the UN refugee agency, around 153,000 migrants landed in Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya.
cc: Vanguard Ng
