Up to 100 dead migrants wash up on the Libyan coast

As many as 100 bodies, presumably of sub-Saharan boat migrants, have washed up near the Libyan city of Tajoura, a Malta-based website on migration issues reported yesterday. The bodies are believed to be victims of a shipwreck off the western coastal town, located some 10 kilometres east of Tripoli, the Migrant Report website said, quoting the Libyan capital's migration department spokesman.

Tajoura is known as a departure spot for Europe-bound boat migrants. Women and children were said to be among the dead, but authorities could not yet confirm the exact number of bodies found or their nationalities.

The bodies are being sent to a Tripoli hospital. If the number of dead is confirmed, it would be the biggest migrant tragedy since 18 April, when 850 people perished in a single shipwreck off Libya.

According to the International Organization for Migration, 1,914 migrants have died in the Mediterranean since 1 January, compared to 1,031 in the same period of 2014. But tragedies have become less frequent since May, following a decision by European Union leaders to expand search and rescue efforts.    (dpa)

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