- A boat carrying 32 migrants capsized off Libya
- The vessel sank near Tobruk after engine failure
- Libya’s instability has led to frequent maritime tragedies
A tragic maritime accident occurred off the coast of Libya on Tuesday when a boat carrying 32 migrants capsized, resulting in one death and leaving 22 people missing, according to Libyan authorities.
The coast guard in Tobruk managed to rescue nine survivors, who were subsequently taken to a local port and hospital for treatment.
The vessel, which had departed from Bab al-Zaitoun near Tobruk, sank due to an engine failure, as reported by the local aid organization Abreen. The migrants onboard were primarily from Egypt and Syria.
Libya remains a critical transit hub for migrants escaping conflict and poverty, and maritime tragedies have been frequent. In December, 61 migrants drowned near Zuwara.
The ongoing instability in Libya, heightened by the 2011 NATO-backed intervention, has allowed human traffickers to exploit vulnerable migrants, leading to numerous fatalities and disappearances.
The International Organization for Migration has reported 434 deaths and 611 missing migrants off Libya in the past eight months, with over 14,100 intercepted and returned. Those who are returned face dire conditions in detention centers, including forced labor and abuse.
