Seven dead, 17 bodies recovered after migrant boat capsizes off Libya

Libya. Seven irregular migrants were rescued and the bodies of 17 people were recovered after a boat carrying irregular migrants capsized off the eastern coast of Libya, the Libyan emergency aid organization Red Crescent said.

In a statement issued by the organization, it said that a ship patrolling from the naval base of Tobruk city started a search and rescue operation. It is reported that seven people died and most of the injured due to the fact that the people on the boat were stranded at sea for eight days in a difficult condition.

The statement mentioned that the rescue operation, coordinated by the naval unit and coast guard in eastern Libya, lasted for more than eight hours.

Libya has become a major transit hub for irregular migrants due to its proximity to Europe and its long Mediterranean coastline. Due to favorable weather conditions, cross-border movements are generally relatively higher between March and September.