More than 60 people drowned in migrant shipwreck off Libya, IOM says

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 60 migrants are feared to have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya. According to survivors, the boat carrying around 86 people departed from Zuwara.

The UN agency said that rough waves caused the vessel to capsize, causing in the disappearance and supposed to death of 61 migrants, including children. As one of the prominent departure points, Libya continues to witness migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in target to enter Europe. 

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this year alone, more than 2,200 individuals have lost their lives while attempting to cross this particular route, making it one of the deadliest migration paths globally. The AFP news agency reports that a majority of the victims in this recent incident hailed from Nigeria, Gambia, and other African nations. 

The IOM sais that 25 survivors have been relocated to a Libyan detention center and are receiving necessary medical assistance. On X, previously known as Twitter, an IOM spokesperson commented that the death toll for this year is an alarming figure that sadly indicates insufficient efforts to rescue lives at sea. 

78 people were reported dead and around 100 were rescued in June when a fishing boat sank off southern Greece. The Mediterranean crossings are known to be dangerous due to the overcrowding of migrants on small boats. 

These migrants are typically aiming to enter Italy and then continue their journey to other European countries, either to escape conflicts or persecution or in search of employment opportunities. 

According to the UN's refugee agency, over 153,000 migrants have arrived in Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya. 

On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held discussions in Rome with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss strategies for reducing illegal migration to Europe. Earlier this year, Mr. Sunak made it a significant focus of his government to put a stop to small boat crossings in the English Channel. 

According to BBC.