Migrants’ boat capsized off Libyan coast, likely 20 dead

A boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Libya. 23 people were on board, the Libyan coastguard said. Probably twenty of them drowned.

Three migrants were rescued by the coastguard. They are in the hospital. The body of one of the passengers has also been found. There is currently no trace of the rest. The Coast Guard continues the search, but the chances of any survivors are slim.

The group consisted of Egyptians and Syrians. They departed from Tobruk, in eastern Libya.

Hundreds of deaths every year

Many migrants try to make the crossing to Europe via Libya. Last year, more than 32,000 people were intercepted or rescued and returned to Libya.

Hundreds of people are killed every year during the crossing. In 2021, according to the International Organization for Migration, there were probably 1,553 victims. This makes it the deadliest migration route in the world. The bodies of 655 of them were found, the rest are missing. In the first two months of this year, 192 migrants have already drowned.

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