Six bodies have been recovered and another 29 people are still missing after the accident on Friday.
35 migrants are believed to have died when a wooden boat capsized off the coast of Libya. First, six bodies were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea near the western port city of Sabrata, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Saturday. Another 29 people remain missing after the accident on Friday and are believed to be dead.
According to the IOM, 53 migrants were reported dead or missing off the coast of Libya this week alone. Libya is one of the most important transit countries for migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Chaos and political instability reign in the North African country due to the long civil war. Smugglers take advantage of this. Repeatedly, migrants leave the coast in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. Last year, the IOM reported more than 1,500 dead or missing on the so-called Central Mediterranean route, which also includes crossings from Tunisia.
(APA)