AT LEAST 50 SUDANESE REFUGEES DEAD AFTER VESSEL CATCHES FIRE OFF LIBYA COAST
75 people aboard; 24 survivors rescued, IOM says, highlights mounting peril of the Mediterranean migration route.
At least 50 people died when a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire off the coast of Libya on Sunday, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Twenty-four survivors have been rescued and received medical attention.
The tragic incident underscores the grave risks refugees face attempting sea crossings from North Africa toward Europe. Libya, which has become a major transit point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, is frequently the site of overcrowded and unsafe voyages.
The IOM called for increased international efforts to prevent such disasters.
By: Itoro Etukudo
Source: Reuters