A boat carrying migrants capsized on Tuesday near Bardaa Island, located off the coastal city of Tobruk, according to Coast Guard authorities in eastern Libya. While authorities confirmed that 10 survivors managed to reach the island to save themselves, a search operation for the remaining passengers is ongoing.
Libya has long served as a primary transit point for individuals fleeing war and poverty across Africa and the Middle East, particularly following the 2011 uprising that resulted in the death of longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi. Because smugglers frequently utilize small, unsafe vessels for these journeys, thousands of migrants have lost their lives at sea over the years.
Data from the International Organization for Migration highlights the ongoing danger of this route. Between January 1 and May 16 of this year, more than 800 migrants were reported dead or missing in the central Mediterranean. This follows a previous year where more than 1,300 migrants perished or went missing while attempting the same crossing.
Smugglers usually pack Europe-bound migrants into small and unsafe boats, with thousands dying during the perilous sea journey.
