Boat carrying migrants drown off the Mediterranean Sea near Libya, killing at least 57 people
At least 57 people have drowned off the Libyan coast, the latest large-scale loss of life involving migrants trying to reach Europe. The head of the International Organisation for Migration in Libya, Federico Soda, said he was horrified. The IOM said survivors told its staff that 20 women and two children were among those who died.
The cause of the accident near the Libyan port of Khoms is unclear. Boats leaving Libya to Europe are usually overloaded and leave at night to evade detection by the coast guard. Improved weather has contributed to an increase in the number of boats attempting the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean from North Africa.
An estimated 1,100 people have died this year, more than double the figure for the same period in 2020. Ms Msehli added that the survivors from Nigeria, Ghana, and the Gambia, reported the vessel had stopped due to an engine problem, then capsized amid bad weather. The capsizing was the second sea disaster in less than a week off the Libyan coast involving Europe-bound migrants.
… According to the UN migration agency, at least 20 migrants went overboard from a vessel last Wednesday and were presumed dead. There has been a spike in crossings and attempted crossings from Libya in recent months. Amnesty International has said that more than 7,000 people intercepted at sea forcibly returned to detention camps in Libya in the first six months of this year.
… Earlier this month, a migration agency report said the number of migrants and refugees who died while attempting to reach Europe on dangerous sea crossings more than doubled so far this year, compared to the first six months of 2020.
The report said at least 1,146 people perished between January and June, with the Central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy being the deadliest, claiming 741 lives. The deadliest shipwreck so far this year took place April 22 off Libya, when 130 people drowned despite the ship sending multiple distress calls.
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