Dozens of bodies have been recovered after a boat carrying migrants capsized off Libya's coast, security sources said Sunday.
The eight-metre-long boat carrying about 130 passengers capsized Sunday off the coastal city Al- Qrbula, more than 50 km from Tripoli. The coast guard has rescued 45 passengers, and the navy has recovered dozens of bodies of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, Xinhua quoted a navy officer as saying.
The boat's destination is still unconfirmed, but the officer said it's "likely to be Italy".
Libya has long been a ideal transit for illegal immigrants to Malta, Italy and further to Europe because of its relatively loose border control.
The interim government has not established an effective control all around the country since the 2011 conflict that toppled its former leader Muammar Gaddafi, which might have encouraged stowaways to venture a sea journey via the North African country.