A deadly shipwreck off Libya’s eastern coast claimed the lives of at least 15 Egyptian migrants early Friday, adding to the growing toll of desperate attempts to reach Europe from North Africa.
According to Libyan authorities, the overcrowded vessel capsized around 2 a.m. near the coastal town of Tobruk. The boat, carrying dozens of migrants, was headed for Europe when it overturned in waters that officials say were unsafe for sailing.
Marwan al-Shaeri, spokesperson for the coast guard in Tobruk, confirmed that all identified victims were Egyptian nationals. While two Sudanese crew members were rescued, a third remains missing.
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“The sea is not suitable for any sailing activity,” al-Shaeri told The Associated Press, though he couldn’t confirm the cause of the capsize.
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The total number of passengers remains unclear, but the Libyan aid group Abreen reported on Facebook that at least 10 people survived the ordeal.
Libya has long served as a critical transit hub for migrants fleeing poverty and violence across Africa and the Middle East. With its porous borders and fractured governance, the country has become a launching point for thousands risking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.
Tragically, such voyages often end in disaster. In December, a separate wreck off Libya’s western coast killed at least 61 migrants, including women and children.
Data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reveals a troubling trend. Over the past eight months alone, at least 434 migrants have died and 611 have gone missing off Libya’s shores. During the same period, more than 14,100 people were intercepted at sea and returned to Libya.
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The country remains mired in instability more than a decade after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. Amid the chaos, migrant smuggling networks have flourished, fueling a crisis that continues to claim lives in the Mediterranean.
Libya is a dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. Drowning incidents near the country’s coast have been common. In December, at least 61 migrants, including women and children, drowned off the town of Zuwara on Libya’s western coast.
According to the missing migrants project run by the International Organization for Migration, at least 434 migrants have been reported dead and 611 missing off Libya in the past eight months. More than 14,100 migrants were intercepted and returned to the chaos-stricken country.
Libya was plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
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