Only 13 survive as boat carrying 74 refugees capsizes off Libya coast: UNHCR

Only 13 people have survived and dozens remain missing after a vessel carrying 74 refugees, mostly from Sudan, capsized off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya on September 13, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said, making this the second major maritime tragedy in the region within amatter of days.

- TDG NETWORK

Announcing ina post on X on Wednesday, the UN-HCR’s Libya chapter expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, as dozens who are still missing are presumed to have drowned.

“UNHCR is deeply saddened by a second tragic boat incident off Tobruk on 13 September, where a vessel carrying 74 people, mostly Sudanese refugees, capsized. Only 13 people survived & dozens remain missing. Our condolences to the families & loved ones of those who lost their lives,” the agency stated on X.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) stated that at least 50 people died after aboat carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire off the coast of Libya near Tobruk on September 14.