A boat carrying illegal migrants sank off the coast of the city of Surman in western Libya, killing 18 people.
According to a statement by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Libya, a criminal group organized an attempt to smuggle migrants illegally by sea.
An investigation into the tragedy has been launched. Based on testimony from surviving migrants, authorities began searching for and apprehending members of the criminal network involved in the incident. The number of survivors and their nationality have not yet been specified.
Earlier, on July 7, 2024, Libyan Interior Minister Imed al-Tripoli emphasized that the problem of illegal migration is a matter of national security for the country. According to the minister, there are about 2.5 million migrants in Libya.
Libya remains a key transit point for illegal migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.