Off the wire
• Roundup: Cyprus' community leaders reported working on new convergences  • Russian PM to visit Armenia in April  • U.S. CDC issues advice on pregnancy timing after Zika exposure  • Kyrgyz bank launches co-badged China UnionPay card  • Iran denounces re-appointment of UN special rapporteur on human rights situation  • Namibia reports slight increase in TB cases  • Burundi denies divisions within army: spokesman  • Explosions hit Yemen's Aden, 25 killed  • Austrian expert skeptical over proposed EU intelligence exchange  • Israel reverses decision to close embassy in Belarus  
You are here: 　 Home

12 bodies of migrants washed ashore off Libya's coast

Xinhua, March 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Libyan coast guards said 12 decomposed bodies of illegal migrants were washed ashore on Friday off the coast of Garabulli, nearly 75 km east the capital Tripoli.

"The migrants were heading to the Italian island of Lampedusa," Libyan coast guards official Abdullatif Al-Munser said.

He said the bodies were almost decomposed completely, indicating the boat carrying them sank several days ago.

Libya is a preferred point of departure for migrants to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe, many of whom drown on the way.

French Defense Minister said on Thursday that nearly 800,000 migrants are waiting in Libya targeting European shores.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that almost 100,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean in 2016 so far. Endit