At least 50 Sudanese refugees have died after their boat caught fire off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya. The International Organisation for Migration confirmed the incident, which occurred on Sunday when a rubber boat carrying 75 people was heading towards Greece.
An IOM spokesperson said 24 survivors received immediate medical care, while it remains unclear if one person is still missing. The ages and gender of those on board were not disclosed.
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The organisation reported that 456 people have died and 420 remain missing along the central Mediterranean route between January and mid-September. It described the crossing as one of the deadliest migrant routes in the world.
Libya has become a major transit point for migrants fleeing conflict, including more than 140,000 Sudanese refugees who entered the country in the last two years following war in Sudan. Instability and lawlessness in Libya have fuelled human trafficking and abuse.
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