At least 60 migrants are feared dead following two separate shipwrecks off Libya’s coast in the past week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported.
The first vessel sank on June 12 near a Tripoli port, leaving 21 people—including women and children—missing, with only five survivors rescued. The victims included nationals from Eritrea, Pakistan, Egypt, and Sudan.
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In a second incident near Tobruk, approximately 35 kilometers (20 miles) offshore, a sole survivor reported 39 others lost at sea.
Othman Belbeisi, IOM’s Middle East and North Africa regional director, called for urgent international action, stating, “With dozens feared dead and families devastated, we must strengthen search and rescue efforts and ensure safe disembarkation for survivors.”
The IOM noted that at least 743 migrants have died this year attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe, citing increasingly risky smuggling tactics, reduced rescue capabilities, and tighter restrictions on humanitarian missions.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, migrant arrivals on Italy’s shores have risen 15% compared to last year, with most departures originating from Libya.
