Search efforts continue as survivors say the vessel was carrying about 61 people.
Tobruk, Libya (Running Africa) — At least 15 migrants have died after a boat believed to have capsized off Libya’s eastern Mediterranean coast, highlighting the continued dangers faced by migrants attempting the perilous journey to Europe.
According to security, naval, and medical officials, the bodies were recovered over the past week along several stretches of coastline near Tobruk, a major port city close to Libya’s border with Egypt. Among the victims was a young girl.
Ten survivors told authorities that the vessel was carrying approximately 61 people when it encountered difficulties at sea, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.
Officials said several of the recovered bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, suggesting they had been in the water for an extended period. Search and recovery operations remain ongoing, with authorities warning that additional victims may yet be found along the coastline.
Images released by the Tobruk branch of the Libyan Red Crescent showed volunteers wearing protective equipment as they recovered bodies from rocky coastal areas.
The tragedy underscores the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. Libya has remained a key departure point for migrants and refugees seeking to reach Europe since the political instability that followed the 2011 uprising that overthrew former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
In a separate maritime incident, health officials in Khums reported that 13 migrants received medical treatment after another boat capsized near the city, further highlighting the risks associated with irregular migration across the Mediterranean Sea.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that overcrowded vessels, human smuggling networks, and deteriorating conditions in transit countries continue to place thousands of migrants at risk as they attempt the crossing in search of safety and economic opportunities.
