Libya boat capsize: Dead victims, survivors confirmed to be Bangladeshis

Bangladeshi authorities today confirmed the nationalities of the 24 deceased and 54 survivors who were on boats that perished in the sea off Libyan coast.

The two rickety boats sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast on Thursday. Aboard the boats were about 500 people, 78 of whom were Bangladeshi migrants.

A total of 24 Bangladeshis died and 54 others, including women and children, were rescued, said ASM Ashraful Islam, labour councilor in Libya.

Among the survivors were 12 women and children who were all sheltered in Tripoli. The others were being held in detention centres there, Ashraf said.

The vessels sank after leaving Zuwara, a major launchpad for smugglers shipping migrants to Italy by exploiting a security vacuum in Libya where rival governments are fighting for control.