A boat carrying 32 migrants capsized off the Libyan coast Tuesday, leaving one dead and 22 missing, according to Libyan authorities. The coast guard in Tobruk rescued nine survivors who were taken to a local port and hospital.
The boat, which departed from Bab al-Zaitoun near Tobruk, sank after its engine failed, as reported by local aid group Abreen. The migrants were from Egypt and Syria.
Libya, a major transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty, has seen repeated maritime tragedies. In December, 61 migrants drowned near Zuwara. The ongoing chaos in Libya, exacerbated by the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, has enabled human traffickers to exploit migrants, leading to numerous deaths and disappearances.
The International Organization for Migration reported 434 deaths and 611 missing migrants off Libya in the past eight months, with over 14,100 intercepted and returned. Those returned face harsh conditions in detention centers, including forced labor and abuse.