Boat sink in Libyan Coast with 26 Bangladeshis, 4 dead

A boat carrying 26 Bangladeshi nationals capsized off the coast of Libya, leaving at least four people dead. The vessel, carrying hopeful migrants, was heading toward Europe along the Al-Khums coastline. The Libyan Red Crescent reported that the incident occurred on Thursday night, local time.

Al Jazeera and the BBC reported the news on Sunday.

According to information provided by the Libyan Red Crescent, all 26 individuals on the boat were Bangladeshi citizens. While four deaths have been confirmed so far, no detailed information has been released regarding the condition of the remaining passengers. Search operations for the missing are ongoing.

Photos released by the Libyan Red Crescent show bodies wrapped in black bags laid out in rows on the ground, while volunteers provide first aid to the injured. The rescued passengers have been wrapped in thermal blankets and moved to safety.

Meanwhile, another boat capsized on the same night, carrying 69 migrants from various countries. Authorities have not yet released official information about the fate of those passengers.

The coastal city of Al-Khums, located about 118 kilometers east of Tripoli, has in recent years become a major hub for human trafficking and risky sea crossings. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a key transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe.

On Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 42 migrants went missing after another boat sank near the Al-Bouri oilfield. Over the past few months, multiple boat capsizes off the Libyan coast have resulted in the deaths of hundreds.

The Bangladeshi government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that efforts are underway to contact Libyan authorities to gather information about the deceased and the survivors.