A boat carrying migrants has reportedly sank off the coast of the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk, killing at least 18 migrants and leaving about 50 others missing.
According to Reuters, citing the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the incident occurred near the Egyptian border.
The International Organization for Migration announced that 10 people have been rescued from the incident so far and efforts are ongoing to find 50 missing people.
A diplomatic official at the Egyptian consulate in Benghazi confirmed that the victims of the incident were Egyptian nationals and that the survivors are being held in a center to combat illegal immigration in Libya.
A Libyan coast guard official also stated that the bodies of the victims were found on the beach of Al-Aghila, about 25 kilometers east of Tobruk.
Tobruk, a coastal city near the Egyptian border, is one of the main crossing points for migrants heading to Europe.
This event has once again highlighted the dangers of illegal migration via maritime routes.
