Tripoli, October 2025 — Libyan authorities have confirmed the recovery of at least 61 bodies of migrants over the past two weeks along the coast west of Tripoli, in what officials describe as one of the deadliest stretches of shoreline for irregular migration this year.
The Emergency Medicine and Support Center, operating under the Ministry of Health, reported that the bodies were discovered in multiple locations including Zuwara, Mellitah, Abu Kammash, and Ras Ijdir, a corridor frequently used by smugglers ferrying migrants toward Europe.
Details of the Recovery
- Three bodies were found in Mellitah, and twelve in Zuwara, all identified as irregular migrants.
- An additional 34 bodies were recovered across Zuwara, Abu Kammash, and Mellitah.
- Twelve bodies were buried, while others were transferred to morgues for autopsy and documentation.
Photos released by the center showed medics retrieving remains from beaches and placing them in white plastic bags.
Context and Broader Crisis
Libya remains a key transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Despite international efforts to curb smuggling and improve coastguard operations, deadly shipwrecks and failed crossings remain frequent.
In mid-September, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 50 Sudanese refugees died when a vessel caught fire off Libya’s coast. The IOM estimates that nearly 900,000 migrants from 45 nationalities currently reside across 100 Libyan municipalities Yahoo News UK.
Outlook
Human rights groups continue to call for enhanced search-and-rescue coordination, better migrant protections, and stronger regional cooperation to address the root causes of migration. As bodies continue to wash ashore, the Mediterranean remains one of the world’s most perilous migration routes — and Libya one of its most tragic waypoints.
