WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: Several people have died in recent years on the route between the two countries.
(file image) (Image: AFP)
The bodies of 11 people were found off the coast of Libya on a migrant crossing route on Friday morning, August 14. A plane operated by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) saw the bodies approximately 57 nautical miles from the town of Zuwara, Italian media report.
They were reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition and were floating within the Libyan Search and Rescue (SAR) area of responsibility. The NGO aircraft’s report was then sent to the Italian Coast Guard’s National Operations Centre. The bodies of the migrants were found by the crew of the Albatross plane, Italian Sky News reports. Some were reportedly still dressed, while others were floating on tyre tubes.
There was no immediate confirmation the people found dead, whose nationality was not immediately known, were migrants.
The route between Libya and Italy has been used by thousands of illegal migrants and asylum seekers.
Data from the Italian Home Office released in June suggest 9,915 illegal migrants reached Italy from Libya during the first six months of 2026, down around 54% from the same period in 2025.
Despite the slowdown, more than 83% of illegal migrants who reached Italy via sea came from the African nation.
In June, according to authorities and organisations involved in the response, at least 11 people died after a boat, which had set sail from Libya with approximately 60 people on board, capsized near Malta.
The Italian Coast Guard recovered the bodies of 10 victims.
In another incident linked to migrant routes in the central Mediterranean, a wooden boat departing from Tripoli capsized with approximately 105 people on board.
Among them were also women and children. The vessel remained in difficulty for hours, Italian public broadcaster RAI reported, adding that depsite rescue operations being launched, more than 70 people went missing.