At least four people died after two boats carrying a total of 95 migrants capsized off the Libyan city of Al Khums on Thursday, the Libyan Red Crescent announced on Saturday.
The four known victims were from Bangladesh and were traveling on a boat with 22 other people. A second boat, carrying 69 migrants including Egyptians and Sudanese, also capsized, though the Red Crescent did not specify the fate of those passengers.
This incident is the latest in a string of recent migrant tragedies off the Libyan coast. Last Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 42 migrants were missing and presumed dead after their boat sank.
In mid-October, 61 bodies were recovered west of the capital, Tripoli, and in September, at least 50 people died after their vessel caught fire.
Libya has been a common, though dangerous, transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe since 2011.
Rescue workers from the Red Crescent provided first aid and thermal blankets to the survivors of Thursday’s capsizing. The organization’s statement noted that Coast Guards and port security also participated in the rescue. The bodies of the deceased were recovered and handed over to the relevant authorities.
The ongoing dangers in the Mediterranean come as Libya faces international scrutiny. Last week at a U.N. meeting, several nations urged Libya to close its migrant detention centers, where rights groups have reported incidents of torture and abuse.
