A boat has capsized off the Lybian coast, killing 12 out of 13 Egyptians on board, local authorities said on Tuesday.
According to Al-Abreen, a group that provides humanitarian assistance to migrants in Libya, the boat capsized 60 kilometres (37 miles) east of the city of Tobruk on Monday evening.
The group in a post on Facebook, said there was one survivor, while the bodies were all recovered and brought to the shore.
Also, the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration in Tobruk confirmed the incident.
Since the beginning of Egypt’s political crisis following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, several refugees, especially Syrians and Palestinians, have been attempting to flee Egypt through Libya which is said to offer one of the shortest maritime routes to Europe, particularly to Italy, making it a frequent embarkation point for migrants.
The journey across the Central Mediterranean is dangerous, as migrants face both perilous sea conditions and exploitation from criminal networks that have flourished amid Libya’s political instability.
Last month, one person was confirmed dead and 22 others were declared missing, after a migrant boat carrying 32 people capsized off the Libyan coast due to engine failure, according to Libyan authorities.
According to the coast guard in Tobruk, nine persons were rescued in the mishap.
Al-Abreen said the boat, bound for Europe was carrying migrants from Egypt and Syria.