ZUWAERA — At least 17 bodies believed to be migrants have been recovered from beaches near the western Libyan city of Zuwara, close to the capital Tripoli, medical officials and emergency services said.
In a statement, Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Center, which operates under the Libyan Ministry of Health, confirmed that the bodies were discovered along the coastline approximately 117 kilometers west of Tripoli. Rescue teams were quickly deployed to retrieve the remains and begin burial procedures.
According to local sources, 14 of the bodies were buried shortly after recovery in line with public health protocols and emergency conditions. One of the deceased was identified as a Bangladeshi national and has since been handed over to relatives in Tripoli.
Three other bodies have not yet been formally identified, but there are suspicions that some of the victims may be of Somali origin, although no official confirmation has been made.
Images shared on social media showed medical workers placing the bodies into black bags before transporting them by ambulance for burial, highlighting the grim reality faced by rescue teams operating along Libya’s coast.
Libya has long served as a key transit route for migrants fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability in Africa and beyond, hoping to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. The situation has worsened significantly since the 2011 uprising that led to the سقوط of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, plunging the country into prolonged political instability and insecurity.
Since then, Libya has become one of the most dangerous departure points for migrants attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing. Thousands of people are estimated to die each year while trying to reach European shores.
The latest discovery underscores the growing risks faced by migrants in North Africa, particularly those attempting sea crossings under increasingly hazardous conditions. Libyan authorities and humanitarian organizations say efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining bodies and notify families where possible.
