17 killed, seven rescued off Libya after week at sea

April 30, 2026 / 9:20 AM

Sharjah24 - AFP: The Libyan Red Crescent said on Wednesday that a patrol boat recovered 17 bodies and rescued seven people during an operation to assist a stranded vessel off the North African country.

Libya as a migration route

With Italy located around 300 kilometres (186 miles) away, Libya has become a major departure point for tens of thousands of migrants who risk their lives each year attempting to cross the sea to Europe.

Photos from the scene

The organisation shared images on its Facebook page showing aid workers retrieving black body bags from a boat.

Challenging mission

It described the rescue operation as “one of the most arduous field missions to date.”

Lack of details on victims

The Red Crescent did not disclose the nationalities of those who died or those rescued, but noted that humanitarian assistance was provided to survivors in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, indicating they were migrants.

Statement on the operation

“After eight days of distress, the Almarqab patrol boat, affiliated with the naval base, successfully rescued a stranded vessel. The operation led to the rescue of seven survivors and the recovery of 17 bodies,” the Red Crescent said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Coordinated efforts

The rescue involved the Red Crescent, navy personnel, the coastguard, and coastal security units. It required more than eight hours of continuous work carried out under difficult conditions, the organisation added.