At least 61 killed in ‘tragic shipwreck’ after boat departs Libya

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 61 people, including children and women, have been killed in a “tragic shipwreck” after a boat carrying 86 migrants left Libya.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Libya made the announcement on social media on Saturday.

The organisation quoted survivors as saying the boat, carrying around 86 people, departed the Libyan city of Zwara.

A ‘large number of migrants’, mostly women and children, have been missing and were presumed dead after high waves swamped the vessel, the IOM’s Libya office said in a statement to AFP.

Libya and Tunisia are principal departure points for migrants risking dangerous sea voyages in hopes of reaching Europe, via Italy.

Many of the victims were from Nigeria, Gambia and other African countries, the IOM office said, adding that 25 people were rescued and transferred to a Libyan detention centre.

An IOM team ‘provided medical support’ and the survivors are all in good condition, the IOM office said.

Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesperson, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that more than 2,250 people died this year on the central Mediterranean migrant route, a ‘dramatic figure which demonstrates that unfortunately not enough is being done to save lives at sea.’

The tragedy comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that illegal migration to Europe could “overwhelm” the continent, suggesting a change in international law to tackle the issue.

kk/ma

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