Over the past week, at least fifteen migrant bodies, including women, have been recovered from the eastern Mediterranean coast of Libya. It is believed they died after falling into the sea during a shipwreck. Security, naval, and medical sources confirmed this information to Reuters news agency on Saturday (June 20).
A naval source stated that at least 10 individuals were rescued alive from the coastal area. The rescued individuals reported that there were approximately 61 passengers on board the boat.
Sources indicated that the bodies were recovered from various coastal areas of Tobruk, a city bordering Egypt. Two security officials reported that several of the recovered bodies were decomposed, and cautioned that more bodies might be present in the area.
Photos posted on the Tobruk Red Crescent's Facebook page show volunteers, clad in white protective suits, collecting bodies from rocky coastal areas and placing them in white bags.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's government in 2011, Libya's coast has become a major migrant route across the Mediterranean to Europe. Many people attempt to reach Europe by crossing deserts and dangerous sea routes to escape conflict and poverty. Additionally, the oil-dependent Libyan economy creates some employment opportunities, attracting poor migrants.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the 'Emergency Medicine and Support Center' under the Ministry of Health in Libya's capital, Tripoli, announced that 13 migrants were rescued alive after a shipwreck off the coast. They have been provided with necessary medical treatment.
