At least 18 migrants have died, and 50 remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya over the weekend, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday.
The IOM said ten survivors have been rescued so far. A diplomatic source from the Egyptian consulate in Benghazi confirmed to Reuters that the migrants were all Egyptian nationals.
The source added that the identities of ten victims have been confirmed, and their bodies have been repatriated to Egypt. The surviving migrants are being held at a facility operated by the Libyan department for combating irregular migration.
A Libyan coastguard official stated that the bodies were found on Al-Aqilah beach, around 25 kilometres east of Tobruk.
Since the 2011 uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has become a key transit country for migrants and refugees seeking to reach Europe. Many travel from sub-Saharan Africa or Egypt, crossing the desert and embarking on dangerous sea journeys in an attempt to reach Italy’s shores, just 300 kilometres away.
The IOM described the tragedy as “a stark reminder of the deadly risks people are forced to take in search of safety and opportunities.” It warned that Libya remains a major migration hub where many migrants face exploitation, abuse, and life-threatening journeys.
Humanitarian groups have repeatedly called for stronger international efforts to address migrant smuggling networks and improve rescue operations in the Mediterranean. The recent incident adds to the growing death toll on the central Mediterranean route, one of the world’s most dangerous migration corridors.
