At least 74 migrants have died after a ship capsized off the coast of Libya, reports AFP.
47 people could be rescued by the Coast Guard and fishing boats that helped bring them ashore.
Now the UN migration body warns of the infamous dangerous port.
The ship was on its way to Europe when it capsized off the port of al-Khums off the coast of Libya.
The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) states that at least 74 people have drowned. A total of 120 migrants were on board, including women and children. So far, 31 bodies have been salvaged, the UN writes in a statement.
Only 47 people could be rescued by the country’s coast guard and fishing boats that together helped bring the people ashore.
Infamous port
There is still no information on what caused the capsize. However, the IOM states that the port is notorious for being dangerous.
“The IOM reiterates that Libya is not a safe haven for return and calls on the EU and the international community to take immediate action to end this cycle of exploitation ,” the UN body wrote on Twitter.
Today’s shipwreck was the eighth that has occurred in the Mediterranean since the first of October. Since the beginning of the year, at least 900 migrants have drowned at sea, writes IOM.
A shipwreck off the Libyan coast tragically claimed more than 70 lives today.
IOM reiterates that Libya is not a safe port for return and urges the EU and the international community to take urgent action to end this exploitative cycle: https://t.co/V8gJsKdFyl pic.twitter.com/VVLQfDfGz1
— IOM – UN Migration (@UNmigration) November 12, 2020
Source: expressen.se
