About 61 migrants were missing and presumed dead after their boat sank off Libya's coast, the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, said Saturday, in the latest migrant tragedy off North Africa. The "large number of migrants" are believed to have died because of high waves which swamped their vessel after it left from Zuwara, on Libya's northwest coast, the IOM's Libya office said in a statement to AFP. Libya and Tunisia are principal departure points for migrants risking dangerous sea voyages in hopes of reaching Europe via Italy. An IOM team "provided medical support" and the survivors are all in good condition, the IOM office said. More than 153,000 migrants arrived in Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

Source: Libya Today December 17, 2023 12:08 UTC