Six bodies found after boat capsizes in Mediterranean Sea

The dinghy, which was supposed to carry over 100 migrants, is seen floating in the Mediterranean Sea northeast of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on April 22, 2021, showing debris from a dinghy. PHOTO AP TRIPOLI - Six bodies have been found and 29 others remain missing after a wooden boat carrying 35 illegal migrants capsized off the country's western coast, the International Organization for Migration IOM said on Saturday.

A total of 53 migrants have been reported dead or missing over the past week, according to the IOM, who said the missing people were presumed dead in the Saturday incident off the Libyan city of Sabratha.

IOM said that search and rescue capacity and a safe disembarkation mechanism are urgently needed to prevent further deaths and suffering.

Libya has suffered insecurity and chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

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According to IOM, 3,968 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya this year, including 375 women and 169 minors.