Eleven more bodies of migrants have washed ashore off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya in recent days, following the capsizing of their boat last week. This brings the total number of recovered bodies to 26, with dozens more still feared lost at sea, according to medical and security sources on Tuesday.
Details of the Incident
Last week, 15 bodies, including that of a girl, were recovered from several locations along the coastline of Tobruk, a city near the Egyptian border. Ten survivors were rescued and reported that the vessel was carrying approximately 61 people, a navy source stated. The additional 11 bodies have been found since Sunday, when the body of a woman was recovered.
Recovery Operations
The Coast Guard in Tobruk released photographs showing members of its search and rescue department, along with Red Crescent volunteers, recovering the bodies, wrapping them in white cloth, and placing them onto vehicles. A medical source confirmed that all the bodies were decomposed. Another medical source added, “All the bodies are buried on the same day or the day after the recovery due to bad odors and the disappearance of the bodies’ features.”
Ongoing Search Efforts
“In anticipation of more bodies washing ashore, the security patrols are continuing to be carried out along the shores of Tobruk city,” a security source said. Libya has become a major transit route for migrants, many from sub-Saharan Africa, who risk their lives crossing desert and sea to reach Europe, fleeing conflict and poverty.
